XPeng rolls out AI-powered OS with 2K pure vision ADAS, CEO promises L4 autonomous driving by 2025
XPeng Motors is rolling out cutting-edge AI technology that it hopes will transform the automotive industry from “electrification to smartification.” The Chinese EV automaker held an AI Day event earlier today, detailing the impressive capabilities of XOS 5.1.0, “AI Tianji,” which it hailed as “the industry’s first AI-powered in-car OS.”
It’s been about a month since XPeng Motors ($XPEV) began touting its latest operating system’s (OS) capabilities during the Beijing Auto Show. XOS 5.1.0 focuses on artificial intelligence (AI) driven technologies to power smart vehicles and accelerate their evolution.
During the auto show, XPeng showcased a number of AI-centric technologies in the works that will offer its drivers an EV that can deliver more human-like decision-making and safer driving experiences via neural network learning and end-to-end data iteration from both vehicle and cloud processing.
XPeng also introduced plans to integrate and deploy what it calls the “industry’s first mass-produced 2K pure visual neural network large model in vehicles.” That news confirmed previous rumors that XPeng was abandoning LiDAR sensors in favor of pure vision, similar to Tesla FSD.
That being said, XPeng says its new system enables autonomous driving with capabilities comparable to LiDAR but uses pure vision to create a granular 3D naked-eye experience. We learned more about this technology and then some following XPeng’s AI Day event. Here’s a rundown.
XPeng rolls out exciting advanced tech during AI Day
There is much to unpack from XPeng’s AI Day in Beijing, China, earlier today when company founder, chairman, and CEO He Xiaopeng spoke to a live audience.
To begin, Xiaopeng outlined three core characteristics of this new breed of smart EV, led by AI large models in its OS: Active learning, rapid growth, and personalized experiences. The core of this technology involves the “feeding and training” of AI large models with unlimited rules to develop and grow their understanding, perception, and decision-making abilities in complex driving scenarios.
XPeng says it has already developed the necessary core algorithms for perception, positioning, planning, and decision-making while establishing vehicle-end and cloud-end data processing capabilities. As such, XPeng’s new AI-powered OS will enable rapid algorithm iteration based on actual data and offer future EV drivers enhanced autonomous driving capabilities that are continuously improving via over-the-air OTA updates.
A considerable part of XPeng’s OS and ADAS technology rolling out is enabled by “XNet,” the automaker’s new neural network. XNet is supported by XPeng’s planning and control large model, “XPlanner,” and a large language model called “XBrain.” Combined, XPeng says the integrated system enhances intelligent driving capabilities by 2x.
The XNet deep visual neural network used the industry’s first mass-produced pure vision 2K occupancy network to safely operate a given XPeng EV’s autonomous driving system with capabilities comparable to LiDAR. This new 2K pure vision network reconstructs the world with over 2 million grids to create 3D representations of drivable spaces and recognize every detail of static obstacles along a vehicle’s path.
XPeng shared that the perception range of pure vision 2K twice as long, covering an area equivalent to 1.8 football fields. Furthermore, the ADAS system can identify over 50 types of objects. With the autonomous driving system in place using AI and neural networks, XPeng has empowered the OS to learn and improve on its own using “XPlanner” and “XBrain.” Per the automaker:
XPlanner, like a human cerebellum, continually trains with vast amounts of data, making driving strategies increasingly human-like. This reduces driving jerks by 50%, improper stops by 40%, and passive human takeovers by 60%, providing an ‘experienced driver’-like smart driving experience that significantly enhances user comfort and safety.
With the introduction of the AI large language model architecture, XBrain, XPENG’s autonomous driving system gains human-like learning and comprehension capabilities, significantly improving its handling of complex and even unknown scenarios as well as its reasoning and understanding of real-world logics.
For example, with the support of XBrain, the autonomous driving system can recognize turn zones, tidal lanes, special lanes, and road sign text, as well as various behavioral commands such as stop and go, fast and slow. This enables it to make human-like driving decisions that balance safety and performance.
With the help of these new AI technologies, XPeng’s CEO told the crowd in China that the automaker will achieve Level 4 autonomous driving in the country by 2025. The automaker is also testing the end-to-end capabilities of its XNGP driver assistance technology globally.
Once we get the full English translation of XPeng’s AI Day event, we will be sure to add the video below. There’s much more to unpack, including the automaker’s AI assistant, Xiao P, Smart Cockpit capabilities, and safety features like AI Valet Driver, AI Parking, and AI Bodyguard. XOS 5.1.0, AI Tianji, is available to all eligible XPeng EV drivers beginning today.
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European EV charging provider Allego has launched what is says is Europe’s first rollout of the “world’s safest and most secure” Plug & Charge technology.
The new tech is based on the open industry standard OCPP 2.0.1 and promises to make EV charging as easy as, well, plugging in your car. Forget apps, cards, and complicated sign-ins. If your EV is compatible, all you have to do is pull up and plug in.
Jean Gadrat, Allego’s CMO, said, “By removing digital friction points, apps, and cards, we give drivers the confidence to travel further and charge more conveniently. Whether in the city, on the highway, or abroad, Plug & Charge delivers the same secure, one-step charging experience.”
Here’s how Allego’s Plug & Charge works
Plug & Charge is an ISO 15118-based authentication and payment method built by Allego on OCPP 2.0.1, standardizing communication between OCPP-compliant chargers and networks.
Once your car is enabled for Plug & Charge, the process is completely hands-off. You plug in, and your EV and the charger swap secure digital certificates to authenticate your account. There’s no need to tap an RFID card, open an app, or even press a button.
Allego’s system supports Mutual TLS encryption and certificate-based authentication, so only authorized vehicles can charge. That means no billing mistakes or fraudulent access, which has been a big concern with some older public charging setups.
Available across Europe now
Allego’s Plug & Charge functionality is at more than 5,000 fast and ultra-fast chargers across Europe, and it also works across partner networks, deploying a truly cross-network Plug & Charge experience.
It’s a future-ready platform, too. Thanks to OCPP 2.0.1, the protocol supports remote firmware updates, advanced security, and new features as they become available. So your charger can grow along with your EV.
“As new vehicle models and charging technologies emerge, OCPP 2.0.1 ensures your car always ‘speaks the same language’ as the charger,” said Manuel Trotta, Allego’s head of mobility solutions.
Allego partnered with Alpitronic, Hubject, and Ford to bring its cross-network Plug & Charge to life.
Read more: Waffle House is getting DC fast chargers – and it’s a genius move
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The Kia PV5 is a real-life Transformer: Here’s our first look at it as an electric truck
Kia is looking to shake things up with its new custom-tailored Platform Beyond Vehicles (PBVs). The PV5, Kia’s first electric van based on the platform, is already showing how versatile it is. After the PV5 was spotted for the first time with an open bed, Kia looks about ready to drop an electric truck variant.
Is Kia launching an electric truck PV5 variant?
At the 2024 Consumer Electronics Show (CES), Kia revealed its PBV strategy for the first time. The vehicles are designed as “total mobility solutions” that combine fit-for-purpose EVs with Hyundai’s latest software and tech.
Kia’s PBVs are based on Hyundai’s new ultra-flexible E-GMP.S EV platform, which can be custom-tailored for different uses. The first EV based on the platform, the PV5, launched earlier this year in the UK in two variations, Cargo and Passenger.
The Passenger model is fairly self-explanatory as a personal, everyday van, while the Cargo version is designed for commercial use.
Kia said more variants were on the way, including a refrigerated truck, chassis cab, open-bed, luxury “Prime” passenger, and sliding truck models.
The open-bed variant was recently captured driving in Korea, giving us our first look at the Kia PV5 as an electric truck.
Although brief, the video from HealerTV, taken as the vehicle was driving by, reveals a few new details. It’s our closest look at the open-bed variant so far.
Like other PV5 variants, it appears to be the same up front. In fact, it’s almost identical to the first teaser Kia showed.
It’s hard to tell from a video, but the reporter mentioned the electric truck “seemed like it was just the right size.” Since the PV5 Passenger is 4,695 mm in length, 1,895 mm in width, and 1,899 mm in height, we can expect it to be about the same size. To give you a better idea, it’s slightly smaller than the Volkswagen ID.Buzz SWB.
More variants on the way
The electric truck, or open-bed variant, comes after we saw the PV5 “Conversion,” which will feature new models, including a light camper and a camper van.
We got a preview of the camper van after Kia revealed two new “Spielraum” PV5 concepts, including one with a refrigerator, microwave oven, and even a wine cellar. And then we got a look at the PV5 “WKNDR,” an “adventure-ready” electric van concept. Kia’s electric van even has a wheelchair-friendly version, the PV5 WAV.
What’s next? Kia plans to launch a full range of electric vans. Next up will be the larger PV7 in 2027, followed by the PV9 in 2029. There’s also a smaller PV1, expected to arrive in late 2026 or early 2027.
In the future, Kia plans ot launch a Robotaxi model through a collaboration with Motional. All PBV models will be built at Kia’s Hwaseong EVO plant in South Korea. The facility can build up to 150,000 vehicles annually.
Kia said its goal is to “design PBVs that are simple and intuitive to operate and engage with, regardless of where, when or how they are used.” In other words, Kia wants to make your life easier, “Whether the purpose of the vehicle is to transport people, move goods, or meet logistics or personal mobility needs.”
In the UK, the PV5 Passenger and Cargo models start at £32,995 ($44,000) and £27,645 ($37,000), respectively.
It’s available with two battery pack options: 51.5 kWh or 71.2 kWh, offering WLTP ranges of 179 miles and 249 miles, respectively. The Cargo version gets slightly more range with 181 miles or 247 miles, respectively.
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