”The future is already here,” remarked a celebrated American science fiction writer, and it seems he might be right. The pace at which technology evolves - from AI to big data, connectivity, electrified powertrains, and next-gen mobility solutions - is transforming our daily lives into a more comfortable existence.
But what does the high-tech future city look like? What will our daily experiences be in such an environment? The 2024 Consumer Electronics Show (CES) offered some clues, showcasing trends not only in appliances but also in IT and mobility sectors.
Hyundai’s HTWO Grid presents a tailored solution applicable across the entire hydrogen value chain, from production to utilization, heralding a new era for the hydrogen-based energy ecosystem. Coupled with Software-Defined Vehicle (SDV) technology and various mobility solutions, including Kia’s PBV lineup and Supernal’s eVTOL S-A2, these innovations are set to redefine the urban landscape.
Hyundai Motor Group has long been at the forefront of envisioning the future of urban mobility and energy ecosystems. Their vision, first unveiled at CES 2020, introduced us to Urban Air Mobility (UAM), Purpose Built Vehicles (PBVs), and Mobility Hubs (HUBs) as cornerstones of future cities transformed by new modes of transportation. Two years later, Hyundai showcased groundbreaking robotics technologies poised to revolutionize our lifestyles and the way we move. By the end of 2022, Hyundai had further expanded its vision with the HMG Greenfield Smart City reference model, integrating mobility, logistics, energy, and nature into a cohesive urban concept.
At CES this year, Hyundai revealed its latest achievements - the HTWO Grid, the PBVs, and the S-A2 - each playing a pivotal role in turning Hyundai’s consistent vision into reality. These innovations hint at a future where our lives could be dramatically transformed by a new mobility ecosystem. Let’s delve deeper into what this future might hold.
Hyundai’s blueprint for future cities is grounded in hydrogen energy. Leveraging hydrogen, an almost infinitely abundant clean energy source, Hyundai aims to realize a sustainable future for humanity and the planet. Since initiating hydrogen fuel cell technology development in 1998, Hyundai has been a pioneer in adopting this technology across passenger cars, trucks, and buses. The HTWO Grid, unveiled at this year’s CES, utilizes Hyundai’s comprehensive expertise to create a hydrogen energy ecosystem, covering production, storage, transport, and utilization.
Hydrogen’s high energy density and ease of storage and transport make it a versatile energy source across various sectors. Applying hydrogen fuel cell systems to mobility allows for emissions-free transportation. The ease of hydrogen transport, whether by land or sea, ensures equitable access to hydrogen energy benefits globally, with mobile hydrogen refueling stations and fuel cell generators already in use.
The production methods for hydrogen - categorized into grey, blue, and green hydrogen based on the carbon emissions involved - are crucial. While grey hydrogen is produced from fossil fuels, resulting in high CO2 emissions, blue hydrogen captures and utilizes or stores the CO2, reducing emissions. Green hydrogen, produced through electrolysis powered by renewable energy sources, emits no carbon, making it the cleanest form of hydrogen.
Although Hyundai’s future hydrogen ecosystem will primarily rely on green hydrogen, challenges in producing green hydrogen due to regional and environmental factors are acknowledged. This is why Hyundai has proposed new sustainable hydrogen production technologies, such as W2H (Waste to Hydrogen) from organic waste and P2H (Plastic to Hydrogen) from non-recyclable plastics, offering urban-friendly sustainable hydrogen production methods.
Produced hydrogen can be transported by hydrogen trucks over short distances or by ships in the form of ammonia for longer distances, with ammonia being a more cost-effective and scalable option than liquid hydrogen.
Upon reaching its destination, hydrogen can power a wide range of applications, from urban public transport like buses and trams to personal mobility devices, short- and long-haul logistics vehicles, and even provide electricity in outdoor activities or emergency situations. In industries like steelmaking, hydrogen can significantly reduce carbon emissions by replacing fossil fuels.
Hyundai’s vision for future cities includes innovative mobility solutions like the Digital Curated Experience (DICE), a personal mobility device, and Spatial Curated Experience (SPACE), the multi-passenger public mobility - both powered by hydrogen fuel cells.
DICE offers a tailored digital experience, while SPACE provides a versatile space accommodating a wide range of passengers, including children, adults, wheelchair users, and even pets, thanks to its adaptable seating and the integration of SDV and robotics technologies for optimal accessibility and mobility.
After fulfilling its mobility function, SPACE transforms into SPACE-Pavilion, a community and relaxation space that reuses the mobility module. Here, smart farms utilize the by-products of hydrogen fuel cells for plant cultivation. Or, algae can be grown for air purification, with the added benefit of sharing the generated electricity with the community; the citizens could enjoy a comfortable outdoor life, or use electricity in an emergency.
The Kia PV5, a mid-sized PBV designed specifically for urban passenger transport, epitomizes versatility. From ride-hailing and car-sharing services to autonomous robo-taxis, the PV5’s adaptability makes it a perfect fit for the public mobility sphere. Unveiled at CES, the Easy Swap technology allows for the rapid transformation of the vehicle’s rear section, excluding the front seats, to accommodate diverse applications, providing custom solutions for outdoor enthusiasts and various other user groups.
Moreover, the future of Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) was highlighted with the unveiling of the S-A2 at CES 2024. Developed by Supernal, a standalone entity within the Hyundai Motor Group, the S-A2 incorporates Hyundai’s automotive design principles, resulting in an AAM solution that boasts aerodynamic efficiency, passenger comfort, and high-performance flight capabilities through its eight tilt rotors.
So, how convenient will this future mobility change our daily lives? Here is an example of an imagined experience of moving freely and conveniently in a future city. In the near future, experiences like these may become commonplace:
Tonight’s plan? A dinner rendezvous with the family. After locking in the time and place, you hop onto your mobility app, your go-to navigator in the concrete jungle. A twisted ankle from last weekend’s soccer antics means driving’s off the table. And with the evening commute promising its usual chaos, the race against time gets your adrenaline pumping. The app throws a curveball - a route with not one, but two transfers. Counterintuitive? Perhaps. But you’re unfazed. This isn’t your first rodeo. You know this detour shaves a cool 40 minutes off the journey, bypassing the traffic jam. In the realm of urban navigation, it’s all about playing it smart.
The route recommendation played out like a well-oiled machine; nestled between the tight alleys, your office was the starting line. First leg of the journey, you commandeered the solo rider DICE, zipping through the cityscape to meet your better half. Then, in a seamless transition, you both hopped into the spacious embrace of SPACE, the multi-passenger mobility marvel. Chatting about the day’s highs and lows, you barely noticed the miles melting away until the Vertiport came into view. And there it was, the S-A2, gracefully descending onto the rooftop, ready to whisk you away.
As the doors of SPACE slid open, you see a man in sunglasses, accompanied by a seeing eye dog—a sight far from out of place in this era of mobility. After all, the future of transport is designed for everyone, whether they face physical challenges or simply choose to journey with their furry companions. Your ascent aboard the S-A2 was marked by a canvas of crimson skies, a spectacle that made the bustling gridlock below seem worlds away. Drifting over Seoul, the city’s panorama unfolded beneath you, a moment of tranquility in the rush hour’s usual frenzy. Who could have imagined such serene commutes in the heart of the city’s hustle and bustle?
No matter the mode of mobility, the convenience and freedom it offers are universal. Your parents, who arrived at the restaurant right on time, shared how comfortably they traveled in the PV5 R robo-taxi. The ease of summoning a ride with a smartphone, without the need for transfers, presents an increasingly convenient option, especially when not pressed for time. Knowing they can rely on the PV5 R for their return journey home means everyone can enjoy the meal, lingering a little longer without worry.
Though this scenario remains a figment of our imagination for now, it’s a vision that fills us with contentment. The anticipation of such advancements becoming reality brings joy, with many eagerly awaiting the day when Hyundai Motor Group’s future mobility solutions enable unrestricted movement across both skies and roads.
Today, we’re reaping the full benefits of logistics systems like parcel delivery and early morning dispatches; it’s gotten to the point where a life without these services is unimaginable. But Hyundai Motor Group’s vision for future mobility doesn’t stop at making our commutes more comfortable. At CES 2024, the conglomerate unveiled an automated logistics system and a lineup of Purpose Built Vehicles (PBVs) tailored for cargo transport. These innovations are set to revolutionize our daily routines through an advanced logistics system that seamlessly manages everything from loading goods to delivering them directly to customers. Let’s delve into how Hyundai Motor Group’s future logistics system, powered by hydrogen energy, AI, autonomous driving, and robotics, could transform our lives:
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Hyundai is leading the charge with the CITY POD, an unmanned autonomous logistics mobility solution that heralds a new era in the logistics system. Powered by hydrogen fuel cells, the CITY POD integrates autonomous driving technology with robotics capabilities such as ‘Crab Walk,’ alongside a modular system comprised of Plug & Drive and PND POD, crafting a new paradigm in mobility.
The CITY POD, with its adjustable height, represents a leap forward in logistical solutions, adept at carrying both large containers to sorting facilities and multiple PND PODs for smaller items, ensuring safe transit to delivery points. The last-mile delivery, crucial for getting goods directly into customers’ hands, is efficiently handled by the compact, autonomous PND POD. At the sorting facilities, the AI-powered Stretch robot plays a key role in organizing and loading goods, highlighting the system’s sophistication and efficiency.
Kia’s specialized PBV lineup, including the PV7, PV5 Delivery, and PV1, serves a similar purpose—ensuring goods are delivered swiftly and safely. Despite each vehicle’s unique capabilities, they share the common goal of enhancing delivery services. In coordination with automated robots, these PBVs facilitate the quick and efficient sorting and loading of goods. The Stretch robot meticulously arranges items, which are then placed into cabinets that fit neatly into the vehicles, thanks to a rail system on the cargo floor, streamlining the loading process.
Once loaded, the PV7 and PV5 Delivery vehicles venture into the city to commence deliveries. For navigating the complex urban and residential areas, the compact PV1 PBV takes the lead. Its design allows for easy transfer of goods using cabinets and the rail system, enabling the PV1 to effortlessly exit tight alleys and complex routes.
The secret to its agility lies in a special driving module capable of diagonal movement and 360° pivot turns, making it ideal for last-mile deliveries. The completion of Hyundai Motor Group’s future logistics mobility system promises to bring us faster and more convenient delivery services than ever before, revolutionizing how we receive goods and manage logistics in the urban landscape.
In the urban landscapes of the future, we can anticipate a life that’s significantly more comfortable and convenient than what we experience today. Thanks to an infrastructure grounded in hydrogen energy and a sustainable mobility ecosystem, we’ll enjoy cleaner air and a greener environment, where organic waste and plastics are efficiently recycled. The realization of Hyundai Motor Group’s vision for future mobility technologies and hydrogen energy ecosystems is bound to illuminate our future, indeed.
HMG Journal Operation Team
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