While the deployment of connected automated vehicle (CAV) turns into reality, its acceptance has been called into question. Societal issues regarding public acceptance, user awareness and ethics, therefore, become priority concerns. The approach based on the technology push, jeopardizes social viability of innovative technology like CAV, as it creates a gap between the well-thought technical reliability and public acceptance. SUaaVE will solve this gap by leaning on a Human-Driven Design (HDD) approach, enhancing synergies social science, human factors research and automotive market by means of an iterative process of assessment, co-design and prototyping. Participatory process will involve above 4.000 users (passengers, traditional and future drivers, VRU) and 100 experts and stakeholders along the project. The main outcomes will be: (1) A new paradigm of automation: ALFRED -Automation Level Four+ Reliable Empathic Driver-, that will “colour the decision-making processes of the CAV with human emotions” with: (a) EMpathY Unit to understand the emotional and cognitive state of the passenger, while taking into account society ethical principles; and (b) an Adaptive, Cognitive and Emotional Interface with a set of services (vehicle dynamics, ambient and postural comfort) to enjoy the ride and enhance passenger experience. (2) An immersive Virtual Human Centred Design (V-HCD) platform, allowing the simulation of CAV focused on Human factors to assess their acceptance and speed up market deployment. (3) Guidelines to support Public Authorities, representing a breakthrough in the public acceptance of future CAVs for both the society and, in particular, for all road users. SUaaVE partners will exploit ALFRED and V-HCD platform. Moreover, SUaaVE will contribute to generate new business models based on: 1) exploitation of personal data where the user is the owner and decide how to exploit it, and 2) new adaptive services to user status in real time.

Automated Road Transport (ART) is seen as one of the key technologies and major technological advancements influencing and shaping our future mobility and quality of life. The ART technology encompasses passenger cars, public transport vehicles, and urban and interurban freight transport and also extends to the road, IT and telecommunication infrastructure needed to guarantee safe and efficient operations of the vehicles. In this framework, CARTRE is accelerating development and deployment of automated road transport by increasing market and policy certainties. CARTRE supports the development of clearer and more consistent policies of EU Member States in collaboration with industry players ensuring that ART systems and services are compatible on a EU level and are deployed in a coherent way across Europe. CARTRE includes a joint stakeholder’s forum in order to coordinate and harmonise ART approaches at European and international level. CARTRE creates a solid knowledge base of all European activities, supports current activities and structures research outcomes by enablers and thematic areas. CARTRE involves more than 60 organisations to consolidate the current industry and policy fragmentation surrounding the development of ART.

COBRA aims to develop a novel Co-free Li-ion battery technology that overcomes many of the current shortcomings faced by Electrical Vehicle (EV) batteries via the enhancement of each component in the battery system in a holistic manner. The project will result in a unique battery system that merges several sought after features, including superior energy density, low cost, increased cycles and reduced critical materials. To achieve these ambitious targets we will: upgrade the electrochemical performance by focusing on Co-free cathode, advanced Si composite as anode and electrolyte/separator; cell manufacturing and testing for electrical and electrochemical performance; leverage the use of smart sensors and advanced communication to optimise the system control; battery-pack manufacturing that deliver cost-effective and environmentally sustainable battery over its lifetime. The proposed Li-ion battery technology will be demonstrated at TRL6 (battery pack) and validated it on an automotive EV testbed. The involvement of several leading organisation for battery manufacturing ensure easy adaptation to production lines and scale up to contribute to a higher market adoption while helping to strengthen Europe’s position in the field. Overall, the project includes the participation of 3 universities, 7 RTOs, 4 SMEs and 5 enterprises covering the entire value chain and strongly engaging EU battery industry.