Ford and Vodafone are piloting connected-vehicle technology that advises drivers how many spaces are available in nearby car parks and how to get there called Parking Space Guidance as part of a €15 million project Kooperative Mobilität im digitalen Testfeld Düsseldorf (KoMoD).
It is estimated that the average driver spends as many as 67 hours every year searching for parking spaces at a cost of more than €1,250 which is also responsible for an estimated 30 per cent of urban traffic.
Parking Space Guidance is updated in real-time based on car park data works on the basis that as test vehicles receive road status and car park information from a central computer system as they drive through the city based on their geolocation, along with information from nearby dynamic digital road signs.
Parking Space Guidance features a traffic light assistance system which shows the time remaining on upcoming red or green traffic signals which can help reduce hard braking at red traffic lights, improving safety, fuel economy and traffic flow.
It features a tunnel information system provides advance information about lane closures, speed limits and slow-moving vehicles in tunnels up ahead, and a Vario Display provides information about major events that may impact local traffic, such as exhibitions, concerts or football matches.
“Satnavs are great at helping us to get to our destination but aren’t so useful when it comes to helping us to park there – especially in city centres,” said Ford of Europe engineer, product development, Tobias Wallerius. “Parking Space Guidance is a connected‑vehicle technology that could help drivers to more quickly complete their journey, saving them money, time and benefitting overall air quality.”
