My first issue as editor was November 2019 so this issue starts my 2nd year. 

Covid-19 has been the big news over this time but it is also interesting to see some of the themes around vehicle technology that are developing in both the the car space, which we cover in our OEM section but also in the truck and heavy equipment area which we cover in Diesel Industry News. Whilst the truck side has often lagged in terms of some of the new features it is now leading in some areas due especially to the emphasis on C02 reduction and running cost reduction. Some of the electronic driving technologies have particular promise in this area (See the article in October on Predictive Engine Control for an example.)

The first big recurring theme is the progress towards autonomy, which is evident today in the driving aids in vehicles that aim to increase safety, reduce driver task loading and fatigue and provide a backstop to the driver. This includes technologies such as emergency braking, lane assist and lane keeping and adaptive cruise control. These start in the luxury market but the flow down to everyday cars is rapid, although as the article on EuroNCAP testing of driver aids notes, the implementation at the top end of the market tends to be more robust. 

The other ongoing theme is the move away from ICE (internal combustion engines), which is accelerating as many countries are now setting end dates for their use in new vehicles. With the continuous reduction in battery costs as incremental improvements are made in battery construction and as volume manufacturing savings kick in, we are getting to a stage where in the next few years there will be cost parity between a BEV (battery electric vehicle) and an ICE one which will be somewhat of a game changer. 

Cathy