Courtesy: Nordic Semiconductor
The way we get from A to B and back is rapidly evolving. At the heart of the urban transport revolution is technology-driven electric mobility (‘e-mobility’). This encompasses not only electric bikes (‘e-bikes’), electric scooters (‘e-scooters’), and other lightweight electric transport, but also electric cars that rely on the availability of electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure to stay in motion. Driven by smart connectivity solutions, the e-mobility market is taking transportation efficiency to the next level in cities around the world.
Shared micromobility takes commuters the last mile
Micromobility technologies are enabling flexible, cost-effective, and eco-friendly ‘last mile’ alternatives to traditional commuting. For example, rentable e-bikes and e-scooters now make it faster, cheaper, healthier, more convenient, more efficient, and more environmentally friendly for people to travel the final part of a journey. Better yet, these solutions allow people to avoid private and public transport, reducing both traffic congestion and carbon footprints.
It’s still early days for the sector, but all signs point to sustained growth and exciting development. One report by Market Research Future forecasts the global micromobility market will expand from $114.15 billion in 2024 to $303.47 billion by 2032 at a CAGR of 13 percent during the forecast period.
Bluetooth LE the key to unlocking e-mobility potential
Advanced low power wireless connectivity is the key to efficient e-mobility. Shared micromobility solutions require short-range wireless technologies such as Bluetooth LE to communicate between smartphones and rented transport, enabling equipment unlocking and mobile payment/subscription functionality.
By reliably and securely linking shared e-bikes and e-scooters to smartphones, for example, riders can use associated apps to not only locate and unlock the nearest machine, but also take advantage of unique features such as beginner/safe modes and the ability to check estimated travel times to help plan journeys.
Bluetooth LE is currently used in most share bikes for communication between the bike and a linked mobile because of its ubiquitous smartphone interoperability. Other systems employ cellular IoT with Bluetooth LE as a backup connectivity technology. The low power consumption of both cellular IoT and Bluetooth LE ensures e-vehicles remain connected for long periods.
Wireless tech powers electric vehicle charging stations
And it’s not only micromobility that’s shifting the gears of urban transport. Reliable, secure wireless connectivity also enhances the value proposition of EV charging stations. By encouraging EVs instead of conventional vehicles in city centers, carbon emissions are slashed, and everyone gets to breathe cleaner air.
Wireless connectivity enables EV charging stations to become smart. For example, data can be gathered on the availability and condition of charging sockets. This data can be relayed to a central platform for staff to respond to disruptions or problems remotely. Avoiding potential technical issues can improve availability of the charging outlet for the consumer’s benefit.
By seamlessly integrating Bluetooth LE, Wi-Fi, and cellular IoT, developers can create innovative charging solutions that meet the evolving needs of the EV industry. This is important as EV adoption is accelerating and a large fleet of reliable charging points will be needed to meet demand.
One innovative solution for increasing the number of charging points is to integrate them into smart streetlamps. Streetlamps are already connected to the main electricity supply offering a ready supply of energy for EVs. The U.K., for example, already boasts over 8,000 streetlight and bollard charging stations. Further lamppost conversions will allow the country to greatly expand its network of over 53,000 public charging points. Given charging point access has proved a significant barrier to EV adoption, converting streetlamps into EV charging stations will aid the rollout of EVs generally by ensuring charging is more accessible and convenient.
Nordic nRF54 Series future ready for e-mobility advancement
Nordic Semiconductor’s latest generation SoCs provide a powerful solution for developers of innovative e-mobility applications. The nRF54H20, for example, boasts multiple Arm Cortex-M33 processors and multiple RISC-V coprocessors. Combined with 2 MB non-volatile memory and 1 MB of RAM, the nRF54H Series endows the developer with the dedicated computing power needed to run complex e-mobility applications while also keeping power consumption low to extend battery life.
As one of the most secure low power, multiprotocol SoCs on the market, the nRF54H20 is an ideal connectivity solution for e-mobility applications that demand protection of sensitive personal data used for payment, as well as safeguarding valuable e-transport assets.
Furthermore, the nRF54H20 features an integrated high-speed CAN FD controller. CAN (controller area network) is a standard bus used in vehicles for communications within their electronic systems, and integrating it into the nRF54H20 provides a powerful option for lower cost e-mobility implementations.
Tomorrow’s e-mobility solutions powered by the nRF54H20 will be even more flexible, convenient, efficient, and secure. What those solutions will look like are down to the imagination of the developer, but we can be sure that they will extend micromobility to an even wider population resulting in cleaner, quieter, and safer cities.
