The scope of the Foresight Vehicle Technology Roadmap is broad, reflecting the complex nature of the road transport system. The roadmap represents a ‘rich picture’, capturing the knowledge and thinking from a wide range of perspectives within the automotive sector. Owing to the broad scope of the roadmap, the inherent uncertainties associated with the 20-year time frame and the various interests of a diverse set of stakeholders, it is not desirable to overly constrain the research agenda. Rather, the roadmap is used to provide structure, context and broad direction. This structure enables a consistent language and approach to be developed in terms of understanding the relationships between specific technology areas, system performance and industry
drivers. A variety of information is included in the roadmap, including expert opinion, published forecasts, trends and drivers, uncertainties, questions and speculation. It is intended as a resource for thinking about the future, and a framework for supporting collaboration, decision making and action within the road transport sector.
Investment in road vehicle technology and research should be considered in terms of the contribution (impact) that the investment is expected to make towards the primary social, economic and environmental goals:
• Socially sustainable road transport system, providing equitable, safe and secure road transport that meets the needs and aspirations of UK society.
• Economically sustainable road transport system, supported by a dynamic and successful UK automotive industry.
• Environmentally sustainable road transport system, with a low environmental impact in terms of energy consumption, global warming, waste and health.
Foresight Vehicle is currently organised primarily around five technology areas. Each of these has significant potential to deliver high impact technology solutions to meet the above social, economic and environmental goals:
• Engine and Powertrain technology development, leading to improved thermal and mechanical efficiency, performance, drivability, reliability, durability and speed-to-market, together with reduced emissions and cost.
• Hybrid, Electric and Alternatively Fuelled Vehicle technology development, leading to new fuel and power systems, such as hydrogen, fuel cells and batteries, which satisfy future social, economic and environmental goals.
• Advanced Software, Sensors, Electronics and Telematics technology development, leading to improved vehicle performance, safety, control, adaptability, intelligence, mobility and security.
• Advanced Structures and Materials technology development, leading to improved safety, performance and product flexibility, together with reduced cost and environmental impact.
• Design and Manufacturing Process technology development, leading to improved industrial performance, considering the full vehicle life cycle from ‘cradle to grave’.
This version of the roadmap builds on Version 1.0, updating information and including current views on themes and priorities. The roadmapping process followed the principles described in Version 1.0, but acting to review the original rather than re-create it. The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders, acting as representatives of vehicle and component manufacturers, provided definitions of the market and business needs. Thematic group and stakeholder workshops have provided the specialist input to address these, supplemented by questionnaires. In all, more than 75% of the input came from people who had not been
involved in the generation of Version 1.0. |
