The VivaTech international trade show dedicated to technological innovation was held in Paris from June 14 to 17. This 2023 edition recorded exceptional figures, making it the world’s leading trade show in its category, ahead of CES… Over 2,800 exhibitors, 2,400 startups, 3 stages with 350 world-renowned speakers and more than 150,000 visitors attended. For four days, Viva Technology enabled groups and start-ups to present their innovations in a wide variety of fields… Discover our 11 favorite mobility innovations that could well shape the way we get around tomorrow…
Euro Airship, at the service of sustainable tourism
Euro Airship, a French company specializing in the design, construction and sale of airships, has chosen Viva Technology to announce the launch of the Solar Airship One mission… This is a non-stop round-the-world airship flight without fossil fuels or CO2 emissions. This unprecedented project will be the world’s first demonstration of a completely new low-carbon mobility solution. To build the mobility of tomorrow, Euro Airship has been working for over 10 years and has surrounded itself with renowned partners. These include Capgemini, Groupe La Poste, Orange and others in convergence. The goal ? To meet the challenges of air mobility and industrialize a “zero-carbon” solution.
Finally, the company plans to transport its first passengers in 2026 at an average altitude of 6,000 meters and at around 130 km/h. Euro Airship aims to become a player in eco-responsible tourism, offering a range of on-board experiences, from a flying “bateau-mouche” to an “air cruise”.
Ezymob, more inclusiveness thanks to AI
French startup Ezymob makes it easier for disabled people to get around, thanks to an artificial intelligence algorithm. This real-time guidance solution must be installed on a smartphone. Mobile application relays passenger information, infrastructure and points of interest. The aim it’s to guide disabled people at every stage of their journey. The solution is already helping to increase the accessibility of public transport and establishments open to the public. In fact, Île-de-France Mobilités and SNCF have already tested the tool on RER lines. It is also being tested on the Grand Besançon Métropole network operated by Keolis, and will soon be available on the Métropole Rouen Normandie network operated by Transdev.
Airscooter, France’s first flying scooter
Known for his invention of the Flyboard Air flying platform, Franky Zapata unveils his latest invention… The Air Scooter… A single-seat hybrid helicopter, pilotable without a license and controlled by artificial intelligence. With its four combustion engines and eight electric motors, the Air Scooter can reach speeds of up to 100 km/h and climb to altitudes of over 3,000 meters, for up to two hours. What’s more, it can fly 100% electrically, 100% thermally, or a combination of the two. The aircraft, not yet on the market, is designed primarily for recreational and tourist use. However, the first flights open to the public will be launched next year in flying centers in the USA. The price for a fifteen-minute flight will be around $200-250.
Togg, towards a new individual mobility?
Mehmet Gurcanb Karakas, President of Togg, Turkey’s leading automotive brand, presents his vision of the individual car at VivaTech 2023. Namely: electric, digital and connected. Indeed, the young brand defines itself as a provider of technological and mobility ecosystems. This ambitious new player has hit the nail on the head with its high-tech, connected ecosystem around the electric vehicle. Indeed, according to the Turkish automaker, the T10X, which is its first model, a compact 100% electric SUV, is above all an object of interconnected mobility, powered by AI and facilitated by blockchain. It provides occupants with a privileged experience thanks to three screens on the dashboard, one of which is dedicated to the passenger.
Our story is not a car, it’s anything but a car, it’s the mobility experience of the future…
Mehmet Gürcan Karakas, PRESIDENT OF TOGG
Hove, the solution for intermodality
Hove, a Keolis subsidiary, has developed Patterns CO2. This tool enables local authorities and AOMs to measure the carbon footprint of mobility in a given area. Trips are obtained from GPS tracks taken from cell phones and an algorithm that determines the mode of transport used, applying the GHG (greenhouse gas) emission factors published by Ademe. The Hove solution will accelerate our understanding of mobility and passenger movements within a given territory. What’s more, it will help cities boost the modal shift from the car to public transport and soft mobility to achieve their CO2 emission reduction targets.
“The SL3 hydrofoiler, a floating electric bike
Cycling and water sports enthusiasts will soon be able to combine their passions thanks to New Zealand company Manta SL3. At the VivaTech trade show, the company presented its latest hydrofoil product: the SL3″ hydrofoiler. It’s neither an electric boat nor an electric bicycle, but an extraordinary machine which will be arriving in Europe in ten days’ time… The Manta team explains that the marine bicycle is a “hydrofoil,” which maintains its balance on the surface of the water once it reaches a certain speed. What’s more, the Manta5 bike runs on electric batteries, and has a range of “two hours at full power”. It’s like riding a jet-ski, but with less CO2 emissions!
Destinus, hypersonic hydrogen aircraft
This innovation did not go unnoticed at VivaTech 2023. As a candidate for the second edition of the “Elections de la Tech”, Destinus aims to revolutionize the travel experience by developing a supersonic hydrogen-powered aircraft with twice the speed of Concorde. The average cruising speed will be 6,000 km/h, or Mach* 5. To give you an idea, a Paris-Singapore flight will take 3 hours 30 minutes, compared with 13 hours for a conventional commercial flight, and Paris can be connected to Sydney in around 4 hours. The aircraft will be powered by liquid hydrogen, so there will be no need for fossil or synthetic fuels. Today, liquid hydrogen is the only fuel that does not produce CO2, provided it is produced cleanly. By 2030, the young Swiss company hopes to be able to market its aircraft to airline operators.
However, the first version of the aircraft will have a capacity of just 25–30 passengers. But the second will be much larger, with approximately 120 passengers on board. A tempting project on paper, but one that requires substantial funding and poses major technical and safety challenges…
Valeo & Equans, the alliance for the cities of tomorrow
At the VivaTech 2023 trade show in Paris, Valeo, world leader in mobility solutions, and Equans (a subsidiary of Bouygues) and world leader in the energy sector, have signed a partnership to “meet the challenges of tomorrow’s cities”. Indeed, Equans and Valeo have agreed to meet the new needs of cities, particularly in terms of the development of electric mobility with charging and V2G solutions…
The Smart Pôle is an innovative concept made possible by French Tech. Its aim is to make mobility safer for all users of the city of tomorrow: pedestrians, bicycles, autonomous shuttles, micro-mobility… Equipped with a concentration of Valeo sensors and technologies, the Smart Pôle observes the environment in real time and is able to signal to pedestrians whether or not it is safe to cross. This innovation will offer valuable new services to cities. These include measuring the number of cars passing by to provide real-time information on road traffic, controlling traffic lights to smooth traffic flow, and facilitating the management of parking spaces.
Webreathe, to enhance passenger flows
Invited by SNCF Groupe, startup Webreathe presented 2FLOW at this 7ᵉ edition of VivaTech. A comprehensive, customizable solution that quantifies and values passenger flows for operators and public authorities. This French company thus contributes to improving the quality of public transport service and passenger comfort. But 2FLOW does more than just count. This intelligent solution has been designed and developed to respond to the multiple and recurring problems encountered in the management of a public transport network. Webreathe uses counting data to provide a cross-functional response to a whole range of business applications, in real or delayed time, thanks to the added value of this data.
Climb-E, ultra-futuristic autonomous mobility
Conceived by the Italdesign studio and co-developed with the Swiss industrial group Schindler, Climb-e is an innovative concept in autonomous transport. This electric vehicle, designed as a building extension, promises an unparalleled private travel experience. It can be integrated directly into a home or office. What’s more, it will be able to detach itself in a matter of moments to move from point A to point B. With personalized services, this revolutionary concept comes directly to the end-user, guaranteeing a seamless, convenient experience.
Airweb, mobility facilitator
Airweb, a subsidiary of Paragon ID, was present on the SNCF stand. Its platform, a transactional hub, has been integrated into the SNCF Connect application to distribute tickets for public transport networks. Tickets for 22 networks can now be purchased directly from SNCF Connect. What’s more, this purchasing channel complements the local applications of public transport networks. Thanks to the partnership between SNCF Connect and Airweb, users can buy their TGV and TER tickets, as well as streetcar and bus tickets for the last mile. An all-in-one solution that facilitates access to transport and enhances the customer experience.
