Flying car or supersonic train? Find out how we’re going to move forward by 2030 – poca Negócios

How do we address all the issues that prevent us from achieving efficient and sustainable mobility today? The companies below may not have all the answers, but they certainly point you in the right direction.

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The most immediate and futuristic solution is known informally as “flying cars”, vehicles that are less similar to the propeller-led cars spec and better fit the concept of customized helicopters. Electric only, with the ability to operate autonomously, quieter, less polluting and with lower operating costs.

To give relief to city traffic, projects with supersonic trains capable of running at a speed of 900 kmph have started taking shape. Even conventional cars will never be the same. Electric, autonomous – and even powered by new fuels like hydrogen. Machines have to be changed and with them the economy and the way we live.

Now, for those who want to move around, but outside the planet, there will also be a way through companies promoting space tourism. Check it out below.

traffic management

Hayden AI | United States | Foundation 2019
The company built the world’s first autonomous traffic management platform. It is a mechanism to monitor the vehicles in a city and know the traffic jams, accidents and other unforeseen incidents on the way. For this the company intends to partner with government organizations and the local community. Combining artificial intelligence with three-dimensional sensors installed in participating vehicles, the platform creates a digital copy of a metropolis’s main roads, tracks them in real time and generates insights.

first flying car

ehang | China | Foundation 2014
Ehang is known for being the first company to introduce an eVTOL prototype capable of carrying passengers. The Ehang 184 was introduced in January 2016. Since then, the company has gone public on Nasdaq in 2019 and continues to develop hardware through mobility projects in the United States, Europe and the United Arab Emirates. The most recent of these is Ambular, built by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), which is producing prototypes of EVTOL for various uses.

maximum speed on rail

HyperloopTT | United States | Foundation 2013
The supersonic train concept was created and popularized by Elon Musk in 2013 through SpaceX studies, and released into open source to the technology community. Since then, other companies have emerged to study the model, primarily aimed at long-distance transportation. It operates with a high-speed propulsion system in a vacuum-sealed tunnel, intended to travel in excess of 1,100 km/h. One of the companies leading the movement is HyperloopTT, which has already built prototypes and even conducted a study in Brazil, in partnership with the Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Which has verified the feasibility of building a route connecting Porto. From Alegre to Caxias do Sul in less than 20 minutes, at speeds up to 850 km/h. “It’s certainly not the only possible route in Brazil,” says the company’s CEO, Andrés de Leon. In Brazil, there is only one feasibility study. In the world, there are forecasts that the operation starts in up to three years. Another major company in the segment is Virgin Hyperloop, founded in 2014, which made its first test trip in 2020 with passengers in the desert in Nevada, United States.

robot on wheel

Neuro | United States | Foundation 2016
Nuro has developed a fully autonomous car that is designed to meet the demands of all types of goods delivery in residential neighborhoods, from restaurants to convenience stores and laundromats. The technology, which has already received authorization to operate on public roads in California, raised $600 million in a Series D investment round in November with participation from SoftBank, Google Ventures and Tiger Global.

delivery drone

Speedbird | Brazil | Foundation 2018
Drone delivery of products has become almost natural in many countries. In Brazil, which is leading the movement is Speedbird, a startup by Franca in the interior of So Paulo. The company became the first company to receive authorization from the National Civil Aviation Agency (Enac) to conduct trials in the country and has already closed partnerships with iFood, Ambev and Mercedes-Benz. Earlier this year, it received unprecedented authorization to operate the aircraft with a delivery platform for daily commercial use across Brazil. The target is to have 250 drones in operation by 2023.

electric cars for all

BYD | China | Foundation 2003
While Tesla produces high-end electric cars, BYD wants to reach the masses and aims for more popular prices. The automaker, which is the largest in China and has already secured financial backing from Warren Buffett, aims to democratize access to electric vehicles. To this end, it has created innovative, cost-effective systems and products such as the DM-i plug-in hybrid motor and lithium iron phosphate (LFP) blade battery. The company has already partnered with companies like Toyota to provide batteries and other electric car technology. In 2021, it sold approximately 600,000 vehicles, an annual increase of 231%. In Brazil, the company opened an electric bus factory in Campinas, So Paulo. In April of this year, it decided to end production of combustion engines in China, becoming the first major manufacturer to take the step.

accessibility stick

My Way Digital Stick | Rwanda | Foundation 2020
The My Way Digital Stick is a digital stick for blind people with a motion sensor, which detects obstacles up to half a meter away and gives an audible warning to the user. The company was selected for Africa’s Smart Cities Innovation Program in 2021.

Intelligence and Accessibility

Hawker | Tunisia | Foundation 2018
To promote driver independence, the company created a smart and sustainable car for people with physical disabilities or reduced mobility. The design features a rear ramp that provides access to the vehicle’s interior without the need for third-party help, and adjustable controls according to the user’s preferences. In 2021, it received the Energy Globe World Award, which rewards the world’s best environmental projects.

Runner for self-driving cars

cavanue | United States | Foundation 2021
Cavnue aims to create an urban ecosystem for autonomous cars through special circulation corridors in metros. There will be sensors along the entire route to guide vehicles on the roads, which will send alerts about conditions ahead, such as works and potholes. A self-driving car with a problem with the internal system will also be able to signal it quickly with support teams and real-time follow-up. The first capital to receive this technology would be Detroit in the United States. Ford is one of the main supporters of the company.

autonomy in collectivism

QCraft | China | Foundation 2019
The Chinese autonomous driving startup launched the country’s first driverless bus with 5G connection in October. Passengers can request to stop and track the location of vehicles in real time through a program on the Chinese WeChat app. The operation is already underway in six Chinese cities. In August, it received $100 million in a Series A round led by Genesis Capital and YF Capital.

Capable human speed | Spain | Foundation 2018
A Toyota-accelerated startup has developed a lightweight and affordable robotic exoskeleton to help restore the ability to walk for people with lower limb paralysis, to empower them and create independence. The device also has Able Care, a cloud application that provides personalized therapy.

Hi-Tech Electric | Brazil | Foundation 2017
Focusing on the urban electric mobility sector, the company produces motors for cars, SUVs and even boats. With a technical support network present in all regions of the country, the company has already developed electric motors for customers like 99 and Unidas.

Mobileye | Israel | Foundation 1999
A subsidiary of Intel, develops self-driving cars and driver assistance systems. Its sensors use lasers to draw a three-dimensional path promising a safe experience. The company has customers like BMW and General Motors.

napper | Germany | Foundation 2017
Enapter has created a device that splits water into oxygen and hydrogen, which are then used to generate energy. It is a low cost and highly scalable ion exchange membrane electrolyzer. The company already claims to operate in 36 countries, with over 140 local corporate clients.