[CES2020] Running the Urban Sky Road... Hyundai's 'Mobility Solution' Envisions the Future City

Hyundai Motor Unveils Future Mobility Vision at CES 2020
Core Mobility Solutions Including UAM, PBV, and Hub
Jung Eui-sun: "Our Goal Is to Provide Seamless Freedom of Movement"

Hyundai Motor's Future Mobility Vision (Photo by Hyundai Motor)

[Los Angeles (USA) = Asia Economy Reporter Kim Ji-hee] "By reducing travel time to break down city boundaries, enabling meaningful use of time so people can achieve their goals more efficiently, and creating new communities where people can gather together, we will contribute to realizing a 'dynamic human-centered future city.'"

Jung Eui-sun, Executive Vice Chairman of Hyundai Motor Group, announced Hyundai's future mobility vision at CES 2020, the world's largest consumer electronics and IT exhibition held from January 7 to 10 (local time) in Las Vegas, USA. At this event, he presented three solutions to realize the future vision: Urban Air Mobility (UAM), Purpose Built Vehicle (PBV), and Mobility Transfer Hub (Hub).

UAM refers to a solution that combines Personal Air Vehicles (PAV) and urban air mobility services to use the sky as a transportation route. PBV provides customized services to passengers while traveling on the ground to their destination. The Hub serves as a focal point connecting UAM and PBV. UAM connects the sky and the ground, PBV connects people on the road, and the Hub forms a mobility ecosystem based on connectivity between the other two mobilities. In a future city where a new mobility ecosystem is built through the connection of UAM-PBV-Hub, people can create more value free from the constraints of time and space.

On January 6, the day before CES 2020 opened (local time), Executive Vice Chairman Jung said at a media event, "Through the close connection of UAM, PBV, and Hub, we will provide seamless freedom of movement and continue 'progress for humanity.' CES is just the starting point, and we will continuously strive to realize this vision."

Hyundai Motor PAV Concept S-A1 (Photo by Hyundai Motor)

◆ UAM 'Liberation from Traffic Congestion'... First PAV Concept Unveiled in Collaboration with Uber = The first solution Hyundai proposed to realize a dynamic city, UAM, aims to 'liberate from congested ground traffic' and 'democratize flight' by utilizing air routes. It enables urban travel without runways through electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) capable PAVs.

Shin Jae-won, Vice President and Head of Hyundai Motor's UAM Division, introduced, "We are now at the forefront of a completely new era that will open the skies above urban areas. UAM will free people from ground traffic congestion and create time for meaningful and valuable activities that people enjoy."

At the event, Hyundai also announced the four core principles of UAM: 'Safety' as the top priority, 'Low Noise,' 'Economic Efficiency and Accessibility,' and 'Passenger-Centric.' Above all, for safety, even if one PAV propeller malfunctions, takeoff and landing will be guaranteed, and an emergency parachute deployment system will be equipped.

Additionally, Hyundai unveiled its PAV concept 'S-A1' at the event. It is designed with electric propulsion and vertical takeoff and landing capabilities, accommodating five people including the pilot. It is planned to be developed for autonomous flight in the future. The industry expects the pilot phase of PAV commercialization to begin around 2023.

Notably, the PAV concept was completed through collaboration with Uber, the world's largest mobility company, drawing attention. Eric Allison, Head of Uber Elevate, said, "Hyundai is Uber's first partner in the UAM field among global automakers. Combining Hyundai's manufacturing capabilities with Uber's technology platform will make a significant leap toward building an urban air network."

◆ PBV, Personalized Mobility Solution... "Accommodating All Future Lifestyles" = The second solution is the urban eco-friendly mobility solution 'PBV' based on personalized design. It is a mobile mobility concept that provides customized services to passengers while traveling to their destination, going beyond the traditional concept of simple transportation. Hyundai's ambition is to accommodate all diverse lifestyles of future society.

PBV, reflecting personalized design, can function as an urban shuttle and can be configured and utilized as various spaces ranging from leisure areas like restaurants and cafes to essential facilities such as hospitals and pharmacies. The vehicle's upper and lower parts can be separated, and its length can be extended from the existing 4 meters up to 6 meters, enhancing usability.

Lee Sang-yup, Executive Director and Head of Hyundai Motor's Design Center, introduced, "PBV was inspired by San Francisco's landmark 'Cable Car' and developed from a progressive perspective. It was born as a new symbol of the city that harmonizes naturally with the urban landscape."

◆ A Completely New Space Created by Combining UAM and PBV = The final piece completing Hyundai's future mobility ecosystem is the Hub. The Hub serves as a focal point connecting the sky's UAM and the ground's PBV. The top floor features a PAV takeoff and landing pad, and the first floor is structured with docking stations where PBVs that have completed urban routes can connect.

Especially, the Hub is reborn as a completely different space each time through its connection with PBVs. For example, individual PBVs designed as concert halls, exhibition halls, or cinemas gather at the Hub to form a completed cultural complex. When PBVs related to medical services such as dental clinics, ophthalmology, and pharmacies combine, the Hub functions as a general hospital. Hyundai plans to deploy Hubs throughout the future city to establish a new mobility ecosystem.

Meanwhile, Hyundai prepared an exhibition hall of approximately 202 pyeong (about 668 square meters) during CES 2020. The exhibition features next-generation smart mobility solutions including the life-size PAV concept 'S-A1,' PBV concept 'S-Link,' and Hub concept 'S-Hub.' The S-A1 is installed 2.2 meters above the floor to simulate actual flight conditions, and scenes of the propeller operating will also be presented.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.