Connected vehicles aren’t a new technological innovation. From 2017 to 2022, the estimated stock of connected cars in the UK was expected to increase from 4.86 million to 16.65 million, which is a 242% increase.
What characterises connected vehicles is their connection to an external network, such as a phone, Bluetooth, GPS, or an internal SIM, and, most commonly, the internet – usually through an internal SIM card. That allows you to be connected with your car at all times and communicate with it when you’re not in it, usually through an app on your smartphone. This allows you to perform a number of functions, such as connecting to your car’s radio, using in-car assistants such as Amazon Alexa, receiving traffic updates, and even starting your car remotely.
But with advancements in technology, the future of connected vehicles is looking brighter than ever. With a 5G-enabled connection, vehicles will become an integrated, fully connected hub. Vehicle-to-vehicle (V-2-V) connected technology enables communication between vehicles, so they can share vital journey information, such as road conditions, traffic and speed limits.
5G-connected vehicles offer a host of benefits, including an enhanced consumer experience, improved road safety, maximised fuel economy and reduced emissions.
Connected vehicle technology is also helping advance public transport. Through fleet management, detailed real-time operational information for both bus and rail can optimise performance and operations, improve traffic, and offer more sustainable mobility.