Episode 82: Connected, Automated NEXTCAR

Technology Today

Southwest Research Institute

Technology

4.8 • 19 Ratings

🗓️ 25 August 2025

⏱️ 38 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

SwRI’s NEXTCAR project, funded by the Department of Energy, fuses connected and automated technologies to achieve increased vehicle efficiency. The system demonstrates up to 30% energy savings. NEXTCAR works with all vehicles — electric, hybrid or conventional — without changing the engine or hardware. This is a software solution that goes beyond mapping the best route. The NEXTCAR vehicle can “talk” to its surroundings, like other cars and infrastructure, to determine a full, energy-efficient driving plan. NEXTCAR accounts for details like how many times a driver hits the gas and pumps the brakes, a combination that often consumes more energy. After eight years of research and development, the NEXTCAR connected and automated vehicle technology is complete and ready for the next phase. Listen now as SwRI engineer and NEXTCAR program principal investigator Stas Gankov discusses the advantages of a personal NEXTCAR driving experience, how the system collects valuable data and his call out for collaborators for the next phase.

Transcript

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0:00.0	SWRI developed a vehicle software solution that improves fuel efficiency and reduces emissions without modifying the engine or vehicle hardware.
0:11.7	Drivers see a 30% energy savings.
0:15.1	After eight years of research and breakthroughs, the next car project is ready for the next level.
0:21.2	We're learning about this eco-friendly and easy-to-use platform next on this episode of Technology Today.
0:31.4	We live with technology, science, engineering, and the results of innovative research every day.
0:37.3	Now, let's understand it better.
0:39.2	You're listening to the Technology Today podcast presented by Southwest Research Institute. From
0:44.7	deep sea to deep space, we develop solutions to benefit humankind. Transcript and photos for this
0:51.0	episode and all episodes are available at podcast.swri.org.
0:56.2	Share the podcast and hit that subscribe button on your favorite podcast platform.
1:00.9	Hello and welcome to technology today. I'm Lisa Benia.
1:04.8	SWRI developed an energy-saving software suite for electric, hybrid, and conventional vehicles. The Nextcar platform
1:13.7	uses algorithms for eco-routing and eco-driving to increase fuel efficiency while reducing emissions.
1:22.2	NextCar is short for next-generation energy technologies for connected and Automated On-road Vehicles,
1:29.8	and the project was funded through the Department of Energy, Advanced Research Projects Agency Energy Initiative, or ARPA-E.
1:39.0	SWRI engineer and NextCar Program principal investigator, Stas Gankov, is here to tell us how the technology
1:47.1	can optimize your commute. Thank you for joining us, Stas. Thank you. It's great to be here.
1:51.9	So two phases and eight years later, the system is available to license, ready to bring some real
1:58.7	time and energy savings to drivers and transportation operators.
2:03.7	So let's understand how the next car software works, starting with an overview of connected
2:09.9	and automated vehicle or CAV technology, such an important part of this program.
2:16.5	So what is CAV technology? Sure. So
	...

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