Transport tech & mobility predictions for 2019

This story first appeared in the December issue of EVtalk – CLICK HERE to download the magazine FREE

At ITS New Zealand we’re under way planning for T-Tech 2019.

Still six months away, the hard work to bring you New Zealand’s leading transport technology event starts now.

We’re putting together a programme of local and international experts (see the website for details if you’d like to be involved).

The later part of 2018 has been exciting time for transport in New Zealand and points to an interesting year ahead.
So, I thought I’d make some predictions on the headline grabbing topics for transport technology in 2019.

Micro-EVs will become omni-present in our cities

Hundreds of Lime electric scooters hit Auckland and Christchurch roads in October to be joined by over 2000 Onzo e-scooters.

The e-scooters have prompted safety concerns, government reviews and the odd example of technology failure is reported, but I expect they’re here to stay.
Wellington is set to get them in coming weeks.

Recent announcements about moves to a car-free City Centre in Auckland will further energise last-mile solutions, including e-scooters and e-bikes.

Ride sharing grows and mobility choices diversifying

Ola is the latest player in the ride sharing/PSV scene alongside Uber and Zoomy.
A big player in India and Australia, they have announced their arrival with an impressive marketing effort.
Is there room for multiple players and can they knock Uber from its perch?
What is clear is that ridesharing is here to stay, competition is set to intensify, and consumers are the winner.
In the US, Uber launched Uber Rewards for their Uber and Uber Eats customers, including credits and ability to escape surge pricing.

Or drive yourself, Kwikli’s electric moped hire offer on Auckland’s North Shore, a two-wheel version of Yoogo, Mevo and Cityhop businesses, the latter recently saw investment from Toyota Financial Services and secured EECA funding for expanding the fleet with EVs.

AV trials in New Zealand will get more visibility
Back in January 2017, HMI Technologies announced New Zealand’s first AV trial in partnership with Christchurch Airport.
The company also launched trials in Sydney and Melbourne before announcing Ohmio, a start-up which has designed a module-based connected autonomous vehicle eco-system on which to develop several models of vehicles.
And judging by recent pictures their Lift vehicle is close to a reveal.

Several players have been working towards other trials, to be announced in 2019.

Flying taxi trials will take off
At T-Tech conference 2018, Cora Air came out of stealth-mode, revealing they’ve been testing their flying taxi concepts in New Zealand.
The country appeals as a testing ground with lots of remote unpopulated areas and supportive legislation.

In October, Cora competitor Volocopter announced that they will be testing in Singapore next year, a considerably more populated environment.
It just so happens Singapore is holding the ITS World Congress in September.
Coincidence? We’ll be there to find out.