Connected and automated transport (CAT) technologies can contribute to increasing the efficiency and safety of the transport system. The introduction of these new technologies and services can improve traffic flows, optimise the use of infrastructure, lower noise levels, shift greater volumes of passenger traffic towards public transport, increase the efficiency of goods transport and foster the emergence of multi-modal transport solutions.
Although a number of pilot demonstrations of CAT technologies are taking place in Europe, there is still a need to test the technological readiness, reliability and safety of automated transport functions in complex traffic situations at large scale.
Key issues to be addressed include the performance of automated transport technologies, a regulatory framework which supports the fast introduction of these technologies, acceptable levels of cybersecurity, as well as new business models.
The Strategic Transport Research and Innovation Agenda (STRIA) Roadmap for Cooperative, Connected and Automated Transport aims to develop a customer-centric, intermodal integrated transport system to ensure greater efficiency, safety and wellbeing and lower environmental impacts.
Transport electrification can contribute to breaking transport dependency on oil and decrease carbon dioxide emissions. The decarbonised electricity generation will provide cleaner electricity to propel electric vehicles (EVs). EVs will be able to provide storage services to the grid favouring further expansion of renewables.
The development of energy storage technologies and devices remains the cornerstone of a fully electrified transport system integrated in a clean energy network. Decreasing batteries costs while increasing their energy density and lifetime will speed up electrification of road transport. The deployment of a network of recharging points covering the whole EU road network is another key enabling condition for transport electrification.
The Strategic Transport Research and Innovation Agenda (STRIA) Roadmap for Transport Electrification aims to bring forward, the developments carried out in the framework of the European Green Vehicle Initiative and encourage multi-sectorial and multi-disciplinary research and innovation activities on new materials, advanced propulsion systems and information computer technology.
Transport vehicle design, development and manufacturing (VDM) is a collaborative, integrated and complex set of processes and tools that consider the whole vehicle life cycle and is a key element for the competitiveness of the EU transport industry.
Continuous research and innovation as well as organizational issues are therefore necessary to achieve marketable transport vehicles with shorter development times and time-to-market. The global trend is towards seamless integration of digital and physical vehicle design and manufacturing processes, tools and infrastructures.
The Strategic Transport Research and Innovation Agenda (STRIA) Roadmap for Vehicle Design and Manufacturing aims to develop successful marketable transport vehicles with shorter development times.
Alternative transport fuels such as methane, liquid petroleum gas, compressed natural gas, liquid nitrogen gas, synthetic paraffinic fuels, alcohols and ethers and esters pose a number of technical challenges in terms of their provision and use.
Despite rapid progress in electrification, aviation, waterborne and heavy duty vehicles will continue to rely on liquid fuels for the foreseeable future. In terms of volume, biofuels represent the main alternative to fossil fuels in internal combustion engines.
Research and innovation actions are needed to examine how alternative fuels are produced, distributed and used in the design and development of new powertrains.
The development and deployment of alternative fuels is key to the decarbonisation of the European transport sector and attaining a 60 per cent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.
The Strategic Transport Research and Innovation Agenda (STRIA) Roadmap for Low-emission Alternative Energy for Transport focuses on renewable fuels production, alternative fuel infrastructures as well as the impact on transport systems and services of these technologies for road, rail, waterborne transport and aviation.
Network and Traffic Management (NTM) use systems and techniques to manage traffic behaviour on transport networks. Bottlenecks across air, rail, road and water can result in system-wide capacity constraints, traffic jams and increased pollutant emissions and environmental impacts.
The transition towards an advanced multi-modal transport system requires better coordinated and organised traffic flows to optimise the entire transport network. This involves devices to detect real traffic conditions, traffic information sharing, optimisation processes and the distribution of control actions via end-user devices.
Digital technologies and the emergence of the connected traveller can influence real-time demand by encouraging off-peak travel and use of alternative routes through intelligent applications and user information services. These integrated urban traffic management and mobility information systems contribute to optimising transport flows through cities and in rural regions.
The Strategic Transport Research and Innovation Agenda (STRIA) Roadmap for Network and Traffic Management Systems aims to develop an advanced multi-modal transport system by effectively optimising the entire transport network across new areas.
Smart mobility systems and services have the potential to contribute to the decarbonisation of the European transport sector. Changes in transport behaviour and lifestyles such as the use of smart phones, mobile web applications and social media together with the trend to use rather than own a particular transport modehas opened up new pathways to sustainable mobility.
A critical link exists between new technologies, services and transport decarbonisation. However, policy and innovation efforts have focused on small changes to improve car technology rather than on integrated transport and mobility strategies. Breaking this path-dependency remains a key innovation challenge.
Future transport and mobility services will need to be part of smart and sustainable city strategies to improve urban resource efficiency, decarbonisation and ensure an integrated transport system.
The Strategic Transport Research and Innovation Agenda (STRIA) Roadmap for Smart Mobility and Services aims to assess emerging new technologies such as multi-modal, electric and autonomous vehicles, drone technology and on-demand mobility services. It will establish and assess the impacts of such technologies on transport and mobility systems and services.
Transport infrastructure includes physical networks, terminals and intermodal nodes, information systems and refuelling and electrical supply networks which are necessary for the safe, secure operation of road, rail, civil aviation, inland waterways and shipping.
EU transport infrastructure key challenges with regard to governance; pricing, taxation and finance; coordinated modality, intermodality, interoperability and integration of transport systems; life cycle optimisation; and infrastructure operation.
The Strategic Transport Research and Innovation Agenda (STRIA) Roadmap for Transport Infrastructure aims to develop research and innovation in these key areas, test new methodologies and prepare the ground for future transport infrastructure policies.
