Why bother even leaving your home?
Smartphones will continue playing an integral role in how we interact with our vehicles. Right now, for example, systems such as Uber and Lyft are used for ride-hailing. Some makes and models offer various customer services via private apps. The list will only get longer and Hyundai and Kia intend to lead the charge, so to speak.
The South Korean automakers have just announced plans for an electric vehicles wireless charging system with the Automated Valet Parking System (AVPS). The system's goal is simple: to help future EV owners alleviate the stress of waiting in line at charging stations. Why bother standing around when the car, with the help of your own smartphone, can handle the task for you?
All one has to do is tell the vehicle what to do using a smartphone, and it will automatically head on over to an empty wireless charging station. Once fully charged, it'll head over to another vacant parking spot using the Automated Valet Parking System, thus enabling other EVs to using the station. The vehicle's owner and smartphone handler will only have to call for it to come to their location.
There's also a third actor involved in this process: the parking facility. It will need to have the technical ability to provide the vehicle with the location of empty spaces and charging stations. Meanwhile, the charging system will also have to update the vehicle's charging status in real time.
Obviously this will also require the use of fully autonomous driving capabilities, but we've long known automakers and technologies are working rapidly to make that possible within a decade. Hyundai and Kia, however, would like to commercialize this technology earlier, specifically by 2025 when its first level 4 autonomous vehicles launch.
The automakers also want to commercialize autonomous vehicles in so-called smart cities beginning in 2021, though the ultimate goal of fully autonomous vehicles will supposedly happen by 2030.
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