Shift to single dominant ECU can deliver savings of up to $500 per vehicle: Ricardo study

Ahead of its inaugural Advanced Mobility 2025 conference at the Dearborn Inn, Detroit, on June 18-19, a Ricardo Strategic Consulting study has found that a shift to single dominant ECU, from the current de-centralised approach, can deliver manufacture cost savings of up to $500 per vehicle.

Part of the Ricardo vision for urban mobility, the insight covers the evolution that will be required of vehicle E/E architectures – not only the additional sensors and processing required but also the fact the ECU designs must not be obsolete by the time vehicle is released on the market.

“There are already several companies working in partnership on central controls, incorporating the knowledge of OEMs and cutting-edge tech companies, which will be key to the future of centralised systems,' explained James Passemard, Global Managing Director for Ricardo Strategic Consulting. “These will deliver significant design and development cost savings, yet will handle the increases in the number of sensors and the processing power required for L3-L5 autonomy.”

As the automotive industry grapples with a fundamental shift in transport and related technologies across the globe, Ricardo Strategic Consulting’s Advanced Mobility 2025 conference in June promises an unrivalled insight into understanding the realities of future urban mobility and goods movement.

Starting with Ricardo’s vision for urban mobility, before moving on to consumer needs and behaviours, connectivity and cyber security, investment, innovation and policy, it will pose the questions on what can realistically be achieved by 2025.

The two-day workshop style conference will deliver some of the latest thinking, and cover not only how vehicle systems will be required to evolve, but also the resulting requirements from vehicle OEMs, the role of government regulation and investment. This includes the key enablers in terms of onboard and off-board vehicle systems, connectivity and cyber security, as well as the inevitable policy changes required. The full agenda for both days can be viewed here.

Expert keynote presentations, future tech roadmaps
This glimpse into the future will be delivered by keynote presentations from some of the field’s best minds, while interactive panel discussions on possible technology roadmaps, the market requirements and the business cases for services will allow the audience to interact and shape the debate.

The first day will focus on urban mobility, including the definition of mobility for consumers, while the second centres on the movement of goods: covering connectivity and autonomy, the issue of cyber security and the demands on vehicle manufacturers and fleet operators.

Experts taking part over the two days include Giovanni Circella, Director, 3 Revolutions Future Mobility Programs, ITS - UC Davis, Alan Taub Professor, University of Michigan Advisor, Autotech Ventures and Therese Langer, Transportation Program Director at the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE). They will be joined by additional speakers and panellists from OEMs and Tier one suppliers including Volvo, Ford, Roke, Valeo and Traxen.

This close-knit and limited event permits just 100 people to participate in a discussion which will address how the world’s transport will have evolved by 2025.