From the time we wake up to alarm notifications and track our daily step count through smartwatches, to mapping traffic and shopping online, technology has significantly impacted our lives. In fact, digitalization has revolutionized the way we travel, allowing us to map traffic and avoid congestion, book cabs or auto rides seamlessly, and even anticipate the driver’s arrival. Have been able to know about the time (ETA). With sustainability trends gaining prominence, technological advancements are making significant strides in accelerating electric mobility in India.
If we consider the cost-wise analysis, technology accounts for only 2% of the total mobility cost. However, it gives a result of 98%, indicating the important role of technology in overall service delivery. Efficient operations in the mobility sector are defined by ensuring maximum utilization, minimum costs and excellent user service experience. And to achieve better mobility, we have to achieve these objectives which can be done by leveraging technology.
Here’s a glimpse of some of the tech devices widely used today and several futuristic tech trends that will transform the mobility industry:
The shift to electric vehicles (EVs) from their ICE counterparts is an evolutionary milestone in the Indian automotive industry. The accelerating adoption of EVs, along with the development of charging infrastructure, is paving the way for a cleaner and more sustainable mobility landscape. Technological developments in the sector are resulting in the introduction of high-end, tech-driven charging solutions such as fast chargers and wireless charging, eliminating the need for wired charging solutions. Such progress will help overcome obstacles such as range anxiety and bring us closer to our electric mobility vision. China and South Korea have started adopting this trend and other countries will soon follow. Back home, government initiatives like the FAME scheme are increasing domestic manufacturing and availability of charging infrastructure. Additionally, improvements in battery technology and renewable energy integration will contribute to sustainable mobility solutions in the future.
We also expect to see increasing demand for electric autonomous vehicles (AV-ES) in the times to come. With the popularity of this trend increasing, we believe that the future landscape of the mobility sector appears to be sustainable and rapidly growing. Enabled by technology, these vehicles offer the benefits of both EV and autonomous technology and will emerge as a more efficient and eco-friendly option than ICE vehicles. AV-ES will also be important in enhancing safety on the road and reducing traffic congestion by reducing human error, which is the primary cause of 94% of collisions and will lead to faster mobility.
Today, people often struggle to park their vehicles and this problem is more pronounced in urban areas. Finding parking spaces is a difficult and time-consuming task, which contributes to emissions and traffic congestion due to high amounts of fuel consumed and has a negative impact on drivers’ well-being. Smart parking systems are reshaping the urban mobility landscape. How? By integrating smart parking data with transportation systems to deliver real-time traffic updates and optimize travel routes. They are advanced solutions leveraging new generation technologies like sensors, data analytics and real-time data and provide real-time information about available parking spaces. This helps drivers make better use of parking spaces and management, park efficiently and even reduce time and fuel spent looking for parking spaces, as well as reduce traffic congestion.
The global smart parking systems market is expected to be valued at $8.68 billion by the end of this year. The APAC region, especially India, is one of the fastest growing regions. Several factors, including traffic congestion, increase in automobile ownership, limited parking space, and growing environmental concerns, will drive the growth of the market. We anticipate technological trends such as contactless parking systems, cloud-based parking management systems, AI-powered predictive parking solutions, and harnessing the power of blockchain technology for secure transactions to dominate the mobility market in the future.
Smart parking is anticipated to be an important piece of the sustainable mobility puzzle. Smart city initiatives based on the core foundation of technology-driven strategies address the growing demand for urban mobility and will collectively drive market growth, innovation and development. Such advanced systems are expected to fuel the growing popularity of alternative transportation options such as bicycling and carpooling. In fact, the integration of smart parking systems with EV charging infrastructure will further accelerate the progress of the sector.
In India, public transport is essential for the mobility and livelihood of the population, especially in urban areas which are congested and polluted. Although state governments have established a strong network of bus services, their operations and accessibility are not matching the pace of the growing population, leading to increased dependence on private vehicles. State transport undertakings are facing the challenges of rising fuel costs and aging fleets, and to tackle these issues, they are exploring new strategies such as fostering innovation and facilitating technological advancements to increase public transport access. This step is important to improve service reliability, improve passenger experiences and increase ridership. It is expected that features like real-time arrival information, contactless fare payments and mobile ticketing will make public transport more convenient and accessible. To understand the impact, let’s look at how we travel in the metro these days. When the metro started in the capital in 2002, we had to buy tokens for commuting. In 2012, cards were introduced that ensured seamless travel by helping passengers avoid long queues to buy tokens or tickets. By 2024, we now have the National Common Mobility Card (NCMC), which is streamlining public transport systems from metro rail and buses to trains and payment processes. This is truly a revolutionary step towards digitalizing India’s public transport system.
With the increase in digitalization, there is an urgent need to analyze large amounts of data and use it for various purposes. In the transportation sector, big data is an integral part of route planning, traffic control, and congestion management. Analysis of transportation data collected from a variety of sources enables transportation agencies to identify traffic patterns, forecast demand, and optimize infrastructure investments. Thus predictive modeling helps in forecasting future transportation needs and planning accordingly.
From EVs to smart parking systems, technological innovations are revolutionizing the way we travel. It is expected that the future of the Indian mobility industry will be progressive and more sustainable, driven by technological advancements and innovative strategies. The growing adoption of electric autonomous vehicles, expansion of EV charging infrastructure, and the emergence of cloud-based and contactless parking solutions will further accelerate electric mobility.
The Indian government is supporting the EV transition to achieve the country’s net-zero target by 2070 and has set an ambitious target of 30% electrification of vehicles by 2030. Building a smarter, greener and more connected and intelligent future of mobility will require a collaborative effort of the government, private sector, transport agencies, mobility solution providers and startups.
This article is written by Ashok Vashishtha, Founder and CEO, WTiCabs.
