As the world moves even closer to autonomous and clean mobility, automakers such as Hyundai Motor Company os South Korea once again make a bold leap in this direction. This was seen in the recent demonstration conducted by Hyundai using no less than five self-driving fuel cell electric vehicles.
The said vehicles drove a total of 190kms using Level 4 autonomous driving technology. The vehicles—three fuel cell electric NEXO SUVs and two self-driven Genesis G80s—journeyed from Seoul to Pyeongchang. Moreover, the vehicles merged with normal-flowing traffic and reached highway speeds of up to 100-110kph. They likewise went through toll gates using Hi-Pass--the electronic toll collection system.
This is the first time Level 4 self-driving tests were done using fuel cell electric vehicles, Hyundai notes. The NEXO, in particular, will be capable of travelling up to 600kms on a single, five minute charge when it is unveiled next month, the Korean carmaker says. What’s more, these cars also utilize 5G internet technology—the future of connectivity.
To kick off the demonstration, the SET and CRUISE buttons were depressed on February 2, 2018. Thus began the trip that took the convoy through highways, city streets, and the like until it reached its destination. While the cars may look like your run-of-the-mill Hyundai vehicles, they are actually fitted with a host of cameras and sensors inside and out to ensure safety for occupants and for those around them.
At the same time, 5G internet technology allows occupants to easily connect to the outside world. One can even hook up to the home using Home Connect that enables them to interact with their smart home via remote. Then there is Assistant Chat that lets one ask questions and command a Chat Bot using simple vice commands.
Hyundai also shows that it cares for vehicle occupants with apps like Wellness Care and Noise Away that essentially monitor one’s vital signs and mood and provides a soothing environment while inside the vehicle. And probably the best stress buster would be the Everysing app that lets one sing the time away using Karaoke no less.
This demonstration, along with the said features, are all part of Hyundai’s bid to move even closer to a future with connected mobility, one that has freedom of mobility, and an environment that is clean and free of pollutants such as vehicle emissions.
