Four Mobility Takeaways From CES 2020

Walking the halls of the Las Vegas Convention Center during CES can easily become overwhelming. As attendees look around at the awe-inspiring displays and navigate their own path through the exhibit halls, the future is on full display. It’s appropriate that CES is in Las Vegas—a city famous for being over the top. The setting provides the perfect foundation for the new future, specifically when it comes to mobility. Here are four mobility-related takeaways from CES 2020.

We’re Not Close to Widespread Autonomous Vehicle Adoption

U.S. Department of Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao gave the keynote address on Wednesday of CES, focusing primarily on the current state of autonomous vehicle (AV) technology. She also used the opportunity to unveil AV 4.0, which hasn’t change much from AV 3.0, though there is more focus on ensuring the U.S. “remains competitive.” The federal government understands AV technology can be a powerful tool for the economy, especially considering how instrumental component exports are to our economy, with cars comprising almost eight percent of all of our exports, making it into the top 5 of all exports for 2019.

Recognizing that AV technology needs further refinement before mass deployment, the federal government announced the release of new federal guidelines designed to pave the way for safe and efficient private development of autonomous vehicles. In short, the U.S. Department of Transportation is still taking a hands-off approach but also appears to focus on the importance of U.S. competitiveness.

The United States is Unique in Its Cult-like Focus on Personal Vehicles

In the U.S., it’s all about personal vehicles; one of the reasons is because they are one of our top exports. Another reason is that Americans insist on everything being on-demand and personalized. However, most of the rest of the world is different in this regard. In many areas outside the U.S., there simply isn’t space for a high volume of cars. We need smart land use and better land-use policies—meaning we need transportation and land use constituencies talking to each other. If the U.S. is going to continue to be competitive, the country must lead the charge in shifting away from the personal vehicle.

The Air Is in Play

From Hyundai’s S-A1—a four-passenger electric aircraft, it’s developing with Uber—to Bell Helicopter’s Nexus 4EX—a multi-passenger heli-taxi—companies are looking to take to the skies to skip over congestion. One of the major questions is whether these aerial options will be affordable for everyone, and not just the wealthy. Other issues include the weight of the batteries that will power these electric flying taxis, whether there will be “highways in the sky” with specific routes, and whether helicopters and other aerial options are safe alternatives.

Monorail Was the Way to Get to and from CES

The formerly bankrupt and previously ridiculed Las Vegas Monorail made the experience of entering and exiting CES 2020 seamless, dependable, cost-efficient, and climate-impact neutral. Staying in any hotel along the Monorail’s route, which includes the MGM, Harrah’s, the Venetian/Palazzo, the Wynn/Encore, and other Vegas favorites, reduced the stress of having to commute via taxi, ride-share company, or your own vehicle. Hopefully, the Monorail will remain out of bankruptcy.

It makes sense that CES is in Las Vegas. The “what happens in Vegas” liberal approach to life and the city’s focus on the future allows for the imagination to wander without limitation. Perhaps the close proximity to Area 51 adds some extraterrestrial influence that makes Las Vegas already seem “extraterrestrial.” And it may need some out of this world options to solve its current and future traffic woes. From the esports options at the Luxor to the success of the National Hockey League’s Golden Knights to the NFL’s Raiders starting in Las Vegas this fall, there are reasons why ensuring seamless mobility around Las Vegas should be a priority.