Sustainable Mobility
Research in this field addresses the issue of mobility in terms of safety, efficiency, reliability, and the reduction of impacts associated with transportation systems. Applied research on vehicles focuses on the development of high-tech solutions, including the evolution of propulsion systems, structural weight reduction, aerodynamics, vehicle dynamics, human-vehicle interfaces, and driver-assistance systems, extending to semi-autonomous and autonomous driving. Specific attention is given to the balance between reducing energy consumption, passive safety, and occupant comfort, as well as to the study of materials and technologies for the recovery and reuse of components and systems—including batteries—and to the optimization of related treatment and recovery technologies. Activities also include the study of emissions generated by transportation systems, the assessment of exposure to pollutants in urban environments, and the modeling of the effects of mobility systems on air and environmental quality, in support of infrastructure planning and policies regulating traffic and transportation.