One of the concepts that Daimler will showcase at the 2017 Frankfurt Motor Show is the smart vision EQ fortwo. The autonomous electric concept picks up its passengers directly from their chosen location.
The concept is a part of Daimler’s CASE strategy, which stands for connectivity (Connected), autonomous driving (Autonomous), flexible use (Shared & Services) and electric drive systems (Electric).
The smart vision EQ fortwo is expected to join Damiler’s car2go car sharing service in the future. Daimler said that currently, a car2go vehicle is hired somewhere in the world every 1.4 seconds. At present car2go has over 2.6 million customers worldwide and the number is growing all the time. The latest studies predict that the number of users of car sharing schemes worldwide will have quintupled by 2025 to 36.7 million.
Although its a shared vehicle, there are individualization options help users to recognize that it is “their” vehicle. Summoned using a mobile device, the autonomous vehicle gets Black Panel at the front (44 inches/105 x 40 cm) and large projection surfaces at the sides allowing the smart vision EQ fortwo to be personalized. LED displays in place of the headlamps can echo a classic look (from sporty to neutral) or take on an eye-like shape, which allows the vehicle to communicate on a more human level, said Daimler.
The rear lamps can also have a conventional look or provide detailed information – warnings or traffic information for example. The “front radiator grille” can add a personal touch and can also communicate with other road users.
The doors of the show car are coated with a film that can be activated as required. If the car is unoccupied, information about local events, the weather, news or the time can be displayed. The smart’s Black Panel Grille indicates whether the car is occupied by one or by two passengers.
On the inside, the dashboard is replaced by a 24‑inch (58.5 x 15.6 cm) screen which is surrounded by a rose gold-coloured frame. The outer edges feature two smaller displays (4-inch), which can be used by the vehicle to say “Welcome” or something like that for example.
It gets more interesting. Those who want can use the 1+1 sharing function to meet other interesting users. Potential passengers are suggested on the basis of their saved profiles and current travel plans, and can be accepted or rejected. When two passengers are on board, the large display in the interior shows shared interests such as concerts they have recently attended or sports that they play.
The smart vision EQ fortwo features a rechargeable 30 kWh lithium-ion battery. When not in use, it makes its way independently to a charging station to load up. Alternatively, the cars can dock with the power grid inductively, feed in electricity and act as a “swarm battery”, taking pressure off the grid.
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