How new mobility services change the automotive industry

Should the code be green?

Sustainable Mobility is the key goal for today and future vehicle manufacturers and mobility providers. Reducing the CO2 footprint of transportation contributes to building a better future for all of us. For the automotive industry, part of this goal is defined in the European Vehicle Emission Standards initiative, Euro 7 being the latest norm before all cars become fully zero-emission.

There are multiple paths leading into zero-emission transportation, most of which are being taken in parallel. Electric vehicles, especially charged using renewable energy sources such as solar energy. Fuel cells and hydrogen vehicles. Using recycled materials for both car interior and exterior. Car sharing, better urban transportation, and all kinds of initiatives leading to reducing the number of vehicles on the roads.

How software development companies can help us achieve sustainable mobility

Of course, software development companies can help with these kinds of initiatives by building software platforms for electric vehicles , efficient charging, and navigating to charging stations using renewable energy or making sure supply chains are fully invested in reducing CO2 emissions.

But is there anything, in general, we can do, or at least think about, to make software development more environment-aware?

One important aspect is the computational complexity of the code. More operations, assuming the same hardware, require more energy. This is especially important these days, as the microprocessors availability has become a huge bottleneck for the automotive industry. How can we mitigate this problem? Let’s look at two possibilities.

Building software for sustainable mobility with green coding

Firstly, does the programming language or code quality matter? Yes and yes. Let’s start by looking at the Energy Efficiency across Programming Languages paper from 2017 comparing the energy efficiency of programming languages (the lower, the better):

We can see that switching to a lower-level language can improve energy consumption. Is this the answer to the problem? Not directly. Procedural, statically typed languages are, in general, faster and have lower energy consumption, but at the same time are more complicated and require more time to write the same amount of code in easier to use ones. This is not a hard rule, as we can see Java gets a great result, although probably after optimizations.

Choosing energy-efficient computing resources

So one thing we can do is to think about the efficiency of the language when we choose the tech stack for our project. The other thing regarding the same problem is to optimize the code instead of adding more cores or GBs of memory - as it may be a cheaper solution initially.

The other improvement we can make comes to leveraging shared resources in the cloud for computation by building multi-layer computing systems, where results required immediately or in real-time can be computed on edge devices, while others can be computed at the edge of the cloud or in distributed cloud systems. Having those three layers, where two of them share resources between multiple vehicles or end-user devices, makes the computation both more cost-effective and requires less energy, as the bill is shared between multiple users.

Developers and software development departments can contribute to making the sustainable mobility goal achievable in the near future. Small steps and decisions regarding programming languages, frameworks, computing resources make a difference.

In the modern world, tech companies strive to collect as much information as possible about the status of owned cars to enable proactive maintenance and rapid responses to any incidents that may occur. These incidents could involve theft, damage, or the cars simply getting lost. The only way to remotely monitor their status is by obtaining telemetry data sent by the vehicles and storing it on a server or in the cloud. There are numerous methods for gathering this data, but is there an optimal approach? Is there a blueprint for designing an architecture for such a system? Let's explore.

What does “telemetry” mean in a car?

This article is about gathering telemetry data, so let's begin with a quick reminder of what it is. Telemetry in cars refers to the technology that enables the remote collection and transmission of real-time data from various components of a vehicle to a central monitoring system. This data encompasses a wide range of parameters, including, for example:

• engine performance,
• fuel consumption,
• tire pressure,
• vehicle speed,
• percentage of electric vehicle battery,
• braking activity,
• acceleration,
• GPS position,
• odometer

Collecting vehicle details is valuable, but what is the real purpose of this information?

Why collect telemetry data from a car?

The primary use of telemetry data is to monitor a car's status from anywhere in the world, and it's especially crucial for companies like car rental firms such as Hertz or Europcar, as well as transportation companies like Uber. Here are some examples:

• Tracking Stolen Cars : Companies can quickly track a stolen vehicle if they store its GPS position.
• Accident Analysis : If a car is involved in an accident, the company can assess the likelihood of the event by analyzing data such as a sudden drop in speed to zero and high acceleration. This allows companies to provide replacement cars promptly.
• Fuel or Charging Management : In cases where a rental car is returned without a full tank of fuel or not fully charged, the company can respond quickly to make the car available for the next rental.

These are just a few examples of how telemetry data can be utilized, with many more possibilities. Understanding the value of telemetry data, let's delve into the technical aspects of acquiring and using this data in the next part of the article.

To begin planning the architecture, we need answers to some fundamental questions

How will the telemetry data be used?

Architectural planning should commence with an understanding of the use cases for the collected telemetry data. This includes considering what the end user intends to do with the data and how they will access it. Common uses for this data include:

1. Sharing data on a dashboard : To enable this, an architecture should be designed to support an API that retrieves data from databases and displays it on a dashboard,
2. Data analytics : Depending on the specific needs, appropriate analytic tools should be planned. This can vary from real-time analysis (e.g. AWS Kinesis Data Analytics) to near real-time analysis (e.g. Kafka) or historical data analysis (e.g. AWS Athena),
3. Sharing data with external clients : If external clients require real-time data, it's essential to incorporate a streaming mechanism into your architecture. If real-time access is not needed, a REST API should be part of the plan.

Can we collect the data from cars?

We should not collect any data from cars unless we either own the car or have a specific legal agreement to do so. This requires not only planning the architecture for acquiring access to the car but also for disposing of it. For example, if we collect telemetry or location data from a car through websockets and the company decides to sell the car, we should immediately cease tracking the car. Storing data from it, especially location data, might be illegal as it could potentially allow tracking of the location of a person inside the car.

How do we manage permissions to the car?

If we have legal permission to collect data from the car, we must include correct permission management in our architecture. Some key considerations include:

• Credential and token encryption,
• Secure storage of secrets, such as using AWS Secret Manager,
• Regular rotation of credentials and tokens for security,
• Implementing minimum access levels for services and vehicles,
• Good management of certificates,
• Adhering to basic security best practices.

How do we collect the data?

Now that we have access to the data, it's time to consider how to collect it. There are several known methods to do this:

• Pull Through REST/GRPC API: In this scenario, you'll need to implement a data poller. This approach may introduce latency in data acquisition and is not the most scalable solution. Additionally, you may encounter request throttling issues due to hitting request limits.
• External Service Push Through REST/GRPC: Here, you should set up a listener, which is essentially a service exposed with an endpoint, such as an ECS task or a Lambda function on AWS. This method might incur some costs, and it's crucial to consider automatic scaling to ensure no data is lost. Keep in mind that the endpoint will be publicly exposed, so robust permission management is essential.
• Pulling From a Stream: This approach is often recommended as it's the most scalable and secure option. You can receive data in real-time or near real-time, making it highly efficient. The primary considerations are access to the stream and the service responsible for pulling data from it.
• Queues: Similar to streams, queues can be used for data collection, and they may offer better data ordering. However, streams are typically faster but might be more expensive. This is another viable option for collecting vehicle data from external services.
• Websockets: Websockets are a suitable solution when bidirectional data flow is required, and they can be superior to REST/GRPC APIs in such cases. For example, they are an appropriate choice when a client needs confirmation that data has been successfully acquired. Websockets also allow you to specify which telemetry data can be acquired and at what frequency. A notable example is the Tesla Websockets ( https://github.com/teslamotors/fleet-telemetry/blob/main/protos/vehicle_data.proto ).

Where to store the data?

After collecting the data, it's important to decide where to store it. There are various databases available, and the choice depends on your specific data use cases and access patterns. For instance:

• Commonly Used Data : For data that will be frequently accessed, you can opt for a traditional database like MongoDB or PostgreSQL.
• Low-Maintenance Database : If you prefer a database that requires minimal maintenance, AWS DynamoDB is a good choice.
• Infrequently Used Data for Analytics : When data won't be used frequently but will be utilized for occasional data analytics, you can consider using an AWS S3 bucket with the appropriate storage tier, coupled with AWS Athena for data analysis.
• Complex Data Analysis : If the data will be regularly analyzed with complex queries, AWS Redshift might be a suitable solution.

When planning your databases, don't forget to consider data retention. If historical data is no longer needed, it's advisable to remove it to avoid excessive storage costs.

Example

Here is an example of such an architecture on AWS in which:

1. An employee grants permissions to the car to stream the data.
2. The data is streamed using AWS Kinesis Stream and saved to an S3 bucket by AWS Kinesis Firehose for audit purposes.
3. The data is also normalized by the AWS Lambda function and stored in AWS DynamoDB.
4. The stored data is queried by another AWS Lambda function.
5. The query Lambda is triggered by an AWS API Gateway to enhance security, such as limiting requests per second.
6. The API is exposed via Route 53 to the end user, which can be, for example, a dashboard or an external API.

Conclusion

In the modern tech landscape, the quest for complete vehicle data is a paramount objective. Tech companies seek to collect critical information about the status of owned cars to enable proactive maintenance and rapid responses to a spectrum of incidents, from theft and damage to simple misplacement. This imperative relies on the remote monitoring of vehicles through the collection and storage of data on servers or in the cloud, offering the capability to monitor a vehicle's status from any corner of the globe. This is especially essential for companies like car rental firms and transportation services, with applications ranging from tracking stolen cars through GPS data to analyzing accident events and managing fuel or charging for rental vehicles.

The core of this mission is to strike a balance between data collection, security, and architectural planning. The process involves careful consideration of data collection methods, adherence to legal and security best practices, and informed choices for data storage solutions. The evolving landscape of vehicle data offers endless possibilities for tech companies to harness the power of telemetry and deliver an enhanced experience for their customers.

 With the development of artificial intelligence, the Internet of Things, and cloud solutions, the amount of data we can retrieve from a vehicle is expanding every year. Manufacturers improve efficiency in converting this data into new services and enhance their own offerings based on the information received from connected car systems. Can software-defined vehicle solutions be successfully applied to enabling fleet management systems for hundreds or even thousands of models? Of course, it can, and even should! This is what today's market, which is becoming steadily more car-sharing and micro mobility-based, expects and needs.

Netflix, Spotify, Glovo, and Revolut have taught us that entertainment, ordering food, or banking is now literally at our fingertips, available here and now, whenever we need or want it. Contactless, mobile-first processes, that reduce queues and provide flexibility, are now entering every area of the economy, including  transportation and the automotive industry .

Three things: saving time, sparing money, and ecological trends dramatically change the attitude toward owning a car or choosing means of transport. Companies such as Uber, Lyft, or Bird cater to the needs of the younger generation, preferring renting over ownership.

The data-driven approach has become a cornerstone for automotive companies - both new, emerging startups and older, decades-old business models, such as car rental companies. None of the companies operating in this market can exist without a secure and well-thought-out IT platform for fleet management. At least if they want to stay relevant and compete.

It is the software - on an equal footing, or even first before the unique offer - that determines the success of such a company and allows it to  manage a fleet of vehicles , which sometimes includes hundreds, if not thousands of models.

Depending on the purpose of the vehicles, the business model, and the scale of operations, solutions based on software will obviously vary, but they will be beneficial to both the fleet manager and the vehicle renter. They allow you to have an overall view of the situation,  extract more useful information from received data and reasonably scale costs.

Among the potential entities that should be interested in improvements in this matter, the following types of fleets can be specifically mentioned:

•  city e-scooters, bicycles, and scooters;
•  car rentals;
•  city bus fleets;
•  tour operators;
•  transport and logistics companies;
•  cabs;
•  public utility vehicles (e.g., fire departments, ambulances, or police cars) and government limousines;
•  automobile mechanics;
•  small private fleets (e.g., construction or haulage companies)
•  insurers' fleets;
•  automobile manufacturers' fleets (e.g., replacement or test vehicles).

The benefits of managing your fleet with cloud software and the Internet of Things (IoT)

Real-time vehicle monitoring (GPS)

A sizeable fleet implies a lot of responsibility and potentially a ton of problems. That's why it's so important  to promptly locate each vehicle included and monitor it in real-time:

•  the distance along the route,
•  the place where the car was parked,
•  place of breakdown.

This is especially useful in the context of a bus fleet, but also in the  sharing-economy group of vehicles : city e-scooters, bicycles, and scooters. In doing so, the business owner can react quickly to problems.

Recovering lost or stolen vehicles

The real-time updated location, working due to  IoT and wireless connectivity , also enables operations in emergency cases. This is because it allows you to  recover a stolen or abandoned vehicle.

These benefits will be appreciated, for example, by people in charge of logistics transport fleets. After all, vehicles can be stolen in overnight parking lots. In turn, the fight against abandoned electric 2-wheelers will certainly be of interest to owners of the startups, which often receive complaints about scooters abandoned outside the zone, in unusual places, such as in fields or ditches in areas where there is no longer a sidewalk.

Predictive maintenance

We should also mention  advanced predictive analytics for parts and components such as brakes, tires, and engines. The strength of such solutions is that you receive a warning (vehicle health alerts) even before a failure occurs.

The result? Reduced downtime, better resource planning, and streamlined decision-making. According to estimates, these are savings of $2,000 per vehicle per year.

More convenient vehicle upgrades - comprehensive OTA (Over-the-Air)

Over-the-Air (OTA) car updates are vital for safety and usability. Interconnected and networked vehicles  can be updated in one go , simultaneously. This saves the time otherwise required to manually configure each system one by one. In addition, operations can also be performed on vehicles that happen to be out of the country.

Such a facility applies to virtually all industries relying on extensive fleets, especially in the logistics, transportation, and tourism sectors.

Intermediation in renting

A growing number of services are focusing on  service that is fast, simplified, and preferably remote. For instance, many rooms or apartment rentals on Airbnb rely on self-service check-in and check-out, using special lockups and codes.

Similar features are offered by  software-defined vehicles , which can now be rented "off the street", without the need for service staff. The customer simply selects a vehicle and, via a smartphone app, unlocks access to it. Quick, easy, and instant.

Loyalty scheme for large fleets

Vehicle and software providers are well aware that new technology comes with great benefits, but also with a degree of investment. In order to make such commitments easier to decide upon, attractive loyalty schemes are being rolled out for larger fleets.

So as a business owner you reap double benefits. And at the same time you test, on lucrative terms, which solutions work best for you.

Improved fleet utilization

Cloud and IoT software enables more practical use of the entire fleet of available vehicles and accurately pinpoints bottlenecks or areas where the most downtime occurs.

This is an invaluable asset in the context of productivity-driven businesses, where even a few hours of delay can result in significant losses.

By contrast,     artificial intelligence(AI)-based predictions   (for example, information about an impending failure)  offered to commercial fleets provide fleet managers with more anticipatory data , which can significantly cut business costs. Other benefits include improved emissions control or higher environmental standards.

Increasing safety

Minimized almost to zero danger of hacking into the system contributes to the security of the fleet-based business.

    Case study: Ford Pro™ Telematics  

Revenues based on software and digital services is not a bad deal for all informed participants in the business environment. Some big players like Ford have based their entire business model, on this idea.  With their Ford Pro™ series of solutions, they want to become an accelerator for highly efficient and sustainable business. Their offering is based on market-ready commercial vehicles to suit almost any business needs and on all-electric trucks and vans. They are developing telematics in particular.

 Ford Chief Executive Jim Farley puts it bluntly: We are the Tesla of this industry.

Bold assumptions? Yes, but also an equally bold implementation. Created in May 2021, a standalone Ford Pro™ unit is to focus exclusively on commercial and government customers. The new model also serves as a prelude to expanding digital service offers for retail customers.

The objective is to increase Ford Pro's annual revenue to $45 billion by 2025, up 67% from 2019.

Streamlined vehicle repairs

Managing a large group of vehicles also necessitates regular inspections and repairs, and at different times for different vehicles. This entails the need to control each unit individually.

The risk this poses is that information about the problem may not reach decision-makers in time, and besides, instead of the service and product, the executive is constantly focused on responding to anomalies. New technologies partially eliminate this problem.

As part of the Ford Pro Telematics Essentials package, vehicle owners receive real-time alerts on vehicle status in the form of engine diagnostic codes, vehicle recalls, and more. There's also a  scheduled service tracking feature and, in the near future, remote locking/unlocking, which will further enhance fleet management.

Driver behavior insights

Human-centered technology can help improve driver performance and road safety. Various sensors and detectors inside Ford vehicles provide a lot of interesting  information about the driver's behavior. They monitor the frequency and suddenness of actions such as braking or accelerating. Knowledge of this type of behavior allows for better fleet planning and improved driver safety.

Fuel efficiency analysis

Fuel is one of the major business costs for companies managing a large number of vehicles. Ford Pro™ Telematics, therefore, approaches customers with a solution to  monitor fuel consumption and engine idle time.

This functionality is designed to  optimize performance and reduce expenses. Better exhaust control also indirectly lowers operating costs.

Manage all-electric vehicle charging with E-Telematics

Telematics also provides an efficient way to manage a fleet consisting of electric vehicles. There are many indications that due to increasingly stringent environmental standards, they will form the backbone of various operations.

That's why Ford has developed its own E-Telematics software. It enables  comprehensive monitoring of the charging status of the electric vehicle fleet. In addition, it helps drivers find and pay for public charging points and facilitates reimbursement for charging at home.

The system also offers the ability to accurately compare the efficiency and economic benefits of electric vehicles versus gas-powered ones.

Better cooperation with insurers

Cloud-based advanced telematics software not only provides a better customer experience. What also counts is a streamlined collaboration with insurance providers and the delivery of vehicle rental services to clients of such companies.

This, of course, requires a special tool that enables:

•  remote processing of the case reported by the customer,
•  making the information available to the rental company,
•  allowing rental company personnel to provide a vehicle that meets the driver's needs.

The goal is to provide  replacement cars for the customers of partnering insurers .

Touchless and counter-less experience

It includes  verifying a customer and unlocking a car using a mobile app . This translates into greater customer satisfaction and the introduction of new business models. With the introduction of mobile apps in app stores,  queues can be shortened. This results in a simplified rental process. From now on, it is more intuitive and focused on user experience and benefits. Because nowadays customers expect mobile and contactless service.

    Case study: car rental  

The leading rental enterprise teamed up with Grape Up to  provide counter-less rental services and a touchless experience for their customers . By leveraging a powerful touchless platform and telematics system used by the rental enterprise, the company was able to build a more customer-friendly solution and tackle more business challenges, such as efficient stolen car recovery and car insurance replacement.

Software-defined vehicle solutions in vehicle fleets. How do implement them sensibly?

Technological changes that we are experiencing in the entertainment industry or e-commerce have also made their way into the automotive sector as well as micro-mobility and car rentals. There are many indications that there is no turning back.

Solutions such as real-time tracking, predictive maintenance, and driverless rental are the future. They help manufacturers execute their key processes more efficiently and track and manage their fleets effectively. In turn, the end customer receives an intuitive and convenient tool that fosters brand loyalty and makes life easier.

Of course, they need to be implemented properly. A large role is played by the quality of software. The key is the efficient flow of data and their cooperation with devices inside the vehicle. That is why it is worth choosing for business cooperation such a company that not only has the appropriate technological competence, but also the knowledge and experience gained during other such projects and implementations for the automotive industry.