Industrial Automation Magazine India

The electric car is highly software intensive

Published on : Thursday 13-02-2020

Mahesh Patil, India Leader, Amphenol Advanced Sensors.

What is the Future of Mobility in the near, medium and long term?
The future and the present have a very thin line as the electric cars are in vogue across the globe. The autonomous cars are not far, especially in regions where there is a seamless road network. The availability of air travel in pod planes will be another disruptive transportation coming up.

Is the automobile industry ready for this transition?
The automobile industry may have no option to keep away from this transition. Already there is a lack of interest in ownership of cars and the pay per use model has grown rapidly. The ever strained road infrastructure is keeping away new buyers especially when pay per use quality, affordable and convenient transport is ubiquitous.

A leading automobile manufacturer describes itself as Smart Mobility Solutions Provider. Not a product, but a solution?
The electric car is highly software intensive which by its very nature makes it a seamlessly connected vehicle. Upgrades will be over the air software upgrades, remote monitoring, predictive maintenance and an internet connected by default machine. Rather than calling it a conventional brick and mortar machine this would be a sophisticated solution on the road.
The true convergence of the internet, internet of things, big data, Artificial intelligence and 5G will be seen on this automobile platform creating a phenomenal experience for the user. The real benefits of this disruption can be realised if the government plays an active role in enhancing the road networks and charging infrastructure.

Do electric vehicles need incentives or is it in need of infrastructure?
The tipping point for mass adoption of electric vehicles is purely dependent on the ubiquitous availability of the batteries and charging systems. The incentivisation is also important but if it is not coupled with the rapid installations of charging stations, very clear and consistent EV policy it would be a law of diminishing returns. The indigenous battery manufacturing industry needs a fillip and government owned enterprises should take the lead and be the catalyst for the same. This would help develop the ecosystem for this vital component. Also every residential area should have EV infrastructure as a mandatory requirement. It should be made mandatory for DISCOMs to provide rapid EV charging backend infrastructure as a mandatory requirement.

What should be the ideal mix of urban transportation?
Urban transportation is moving towards usage of fleets as a necessary transport, metro trains and eventually could be pod planes. The electric factor is picking up at a fast pace.

Mahesh Patil is a Strategic Business Leader with 20+ years of experience in the Technology space of Electric vehicles, wind and solar systems, Internet of Things and expertise in scrum and Lean methods, and a certified six sigma practitioner.