There will still be a lot going on on the roads in the future: whether cars or trucks for individual mobility and goods transportation or buses and streetcars as part of local public transport - demand will remain high and usage habits strong.
For the foreseeable future, road transportation will remain the dominant mode of transport. With e-scooters, micromobiles and electric light vehicles, new means of transportation have been and will continue to be added. However, what needs to change - and this applies to both old acquaintances and newcomers on the asphalt - is that they all need to become more climate and environmentally friendly. At the same time, it is worth looking at other aspects and comparing them with the evolving requirements of users. These include safety, but also efficiency, speed, economy and comfort.
A large number of institutes are working together on projects and topics to develop technologies for the road vehicles of the future: These include drive technologies and concepts for energy management, new materials and construction and production methods for components, structures and entire bodies as well as futuristic vehicle concepts. DLR is also investigating automated and networked driving with corresponding assistance systems and the infrastructure required for this. In highly automated driving, people, vehicles and infrastructure will increasingly interact and act in new, digital ways. DLR is investigating and helping to shape the necessary conditions today in order to make this automotive megatrend a reality tomorrow.
