Mobility Life Balance
Lean back and enjoy the ride - ZF technologies help drivers all over the world reach their destination safely and comfortably.
The traffic jam on the motorway, the chaotic junction in the city, bad weather and a long drive back home after a long exhausting working day. Almost every driver has undergone these situations. In order to increase comfort and safety when driving, our global research and development network works on new, innovative solutions.
Availability
An expensive asset
A passenger car holds the promise of freedom, but it is associated with high costs. Public transportation is less expensive but often fails to offer a genuine alternative.
The cost differences between individual methods of transport, such as the passenger car, and public means of travel are already huge. The same is true of short-term availability. Intermodal mobility, which involves various methods of transportation on a given route, is blurring the line between individual mobility and public transportation. Intelligently managed and perfectly coordinated, this new mix of transportation options should unite all benefits.
Travel Stress
Feeling sick when traveling
Many roadways and transport infrastructures around the world are in poor condition, which can trigger stress. A third of all people actually suffer from motion sickness.
For many travelers, poor road surfaces are not only uncomfortable, but trigger symptoms such as dizziness, nausea, or severe headaches. Kinetosis (more commonly known as motion sickness) occurs whenever the body is exposed to unfamiliar or uncontrolled movements. Autonomous driving can further exacerbate this effect. There is therefore great demand for technical solutions in vehicles.
Traffic Jams
Can traffic jams be avoided?
Traffic jams are not just a game of patience; they are an economic loss - not to mention a drain on fuel and generator of needless emissions. But there seems to be no alternative to the car. The solution? A highly capable mass transit network is important. Car journeys into the city can be replaced by micromobility solutions and autonomous robot taxis will render many car journeys within the city unnecessary.
Feeling Overwhelmed
Overwhelmed in traffic
A lack of time pressure, a clear head and feeling relaxed. For most of us, this is a luxury, and an infrequent one at that. Anyone on the road on a daily basis experiences hecticness and stress.
More road signs and increasing traffic congestion: drivers need to pay attention to more and more, and not only outside the vehicle. Driving a passenger car is becoming ever more complex. Paradoxically, assistance systems that are actually there to help us can become a stress factor.
Environmental Pollution
Polluted air in road traffic
Smog, particulate matter, greenhouse gases: people all over the world already suffer the consequences of mobility that is out of control. The goal must be to get on top of air pollution.
Blue sky and sunshine. It invites you to go for a walk or visit the café around the corner. However, in many cities, it is now becoming a health hazard to do so. Automotive exhaust gases cause pollution that exceeds exposure limits and contaminates the air that inhabitants of major cities breathe.
Accidents
Unnecessarily serious accidents
The number of road fatalities has risen worldwide. However, many of these tragedies were avoidable. More safety standards and the proper awareness are still necessary.
The UN warns that, on average, someone is killed in a traffic accident every 23 seconds somewhere in the world. There are many reasons for this. For example, the vehicles sold in 80 percent of all countries do not even meet basic safety standards. In addition, there is insufficient legislation, inadequate infrastructure and poor road safety education. An urgent need for action exists.
