Australia - Smart Transport, Smart Cars

Synopsis

Smart transport systems or intelligent transport systems encompass a range of wireless and wired communications-based information technologies that can be integrated into transportation infrastructure and vehicles.

Current intelligent transport systems technologies use dedicated short-range communications to transfer data over short distances between in-vehicle mobile radio units and roadside units, ie fixed point-to-point services. Arrangements to facilitate the use of intelligent transport systems have been developed internationally in the 5850-5925MHz band (the 5.9GHz band). While in mid-2011 ACMA still classified this as a medium priority for finalisation. Still waiting on international standards has made progress rather slow.

Smart infrastructure is also looked at in the context of the National Broadband Network, the aim of which is to provide the basic telecommunication infrastructure for a range of sectors, including transport. Special access is provided in the NBN Bill for utilities. In mid-2011 with a carbon tax to commence in 2012, smart transport systems may be able to reduce the carbon footprint and energy use across many of the transport industries, while also lowering GHG emissions. The government at that time also announced its Managed Motorways project.

International evidence indicates that a new generation of electric vehicles, known as smart cars will start flooding the market in coming years. They are marketed like smartphones, aimed to become the have-to-have cars. Currently the infrastructure to facilitate this development is not in place. There are no charging stations, but also the electricity grid is incapable of handling any volume of smart cars. More coordinated smart infrastructure policies are required in order to make this happening.

Companies covered in this report include:

Toyota, University of Wollongong, RailCorp, Ergon Energy, CityLink, epay, miky, Oyster, Mitsubishi Motor Corporation, SP AusNet, GM Volt, Better Place, Portus, ChargePoint, Downer EDI.

Technologies mentioned in this report include:

electric (EV), smart cars, Plug-in Electric Vehicles (PHEV), Vehicle-to-Vehicle (V2V), dedicated short-range communications (DSRC), Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS), Vehicle to Grid (V2G), automatic train protection (ATP), smart card ticketing.

Table of Contents

• 1. Synopsis
• 2. What are intelligent transport systems (ITS)?
  • 2.1 Background information
  • 2.2 Overview of ITS activities
• 3. ITS Australia
  • 3.1 Overview
  • 3.2 ITS world congress 2016
  • 3.3 Outcomes of ITS Summit, 2009
  • 3.4 Government Inquiry – 2002
• 4. Market and Industry developments
  • 4.1 National telematics strategy for road freight industry
  • 4.2 Electronic Transport Diaries
  • 4.3 Cohda Wireless
  • 4.4 The SMART Infrastructure Facility
    • 4.4.1 Overview of SMART
    • 4.4.2 Rail research projects
    • 4.4.3 Public transport projects
  • 4.5 Broadband extends to public transport
  • 4.6 Myki smart transport Victoria
  • 4.7 Australian Road Research Board
  • 4.8 Managed Motorways
  • 4.9 eMU Pass
• 5. Dedicated short-range communications (DSRC)
  • 5.1 Overview of latest developments
  • 5.2 Regulatory framework
  • 5.3 eTags
• 6. Smart transport and the National Broadband Network (NBN)
  • 6.1 NBN access for smart utility services
  • 6.2 Trans-sector approach to NBN
  • 6.3 Government’s smart infrastructure initiative
  • 6.4 Transport and energy use
• 7. Smart cars
  • 7.1 Autonomous cars
  • 7.2 Toyota Fun-Vii
• 8. The Electric Vehicle (EV) market in Australia
  • 8.1 Introduction
  • 8.2 Smart vehicle technology
  • 8.3 Market overview - 2012
  • 8.4 Market predictions
  • 8.5 EV recharge network
  • 8.6 Increased demand for electricity
  • 8.7 Vehicle to Grid (V2G)
  • 8.8 Portus and Ergon testing smart grids and EVs
• 9. The upcoming electric vehicle tsunami analysis
• 10. Electric vehicles within Smart Grid/Smart City project
• 11. Other reports

• Exhibit 1 - Cooperative Intelligent Transport Systems
• Exhibit 2 - Noise monitoring in Melbourne
• Exhibit 2 – eTags and tolls overview
• Exhibit 3 - Learning from e-cars