Chinese scooter leader Niu unveils the NXT2. The world’s first scooter equipped with LiDAR and artificial intelligence. The utility is real thanks to this technology normally reserved for cars.
Cars, whether electric or not, are becoming increasingly technological over the years. Many manufacturers are looking to develop autonomous driving, like Chinese brands such as Geely, who have just received level 3 certification in Europe. Many companies are relying on LiDAR sensors to enable their vehicles to drive autonomously without the driver’s assistance. However, until now, this technology has been very expensive, hence reserved for high-end vehicles.
As with many innovations, prices tend to drop over the years. Manufacturers can now consider offering LiDAR on more affordable models. But the Chinese company Niu has gone a step further. The scooter specialist has partnered with equipment supplier Hesai to equip its new NXT2 model with LiDAR sensors, not for autonomous driving, but as blind spot detectors to improve urban driving.
These elements will be used to detect pedestrians and vehicles in demanding road conditions. This is a major first as LiDAR is currently only used to ensure autonomous driving of cars, both in city and highway settings. The technology developed by Hesai offers a very wide field of view of 180 by 140 degrees.
The cost of the sensor used is twice as high as the previous generation but with a 66% weight reduction, which may slightly benefit the vehicle’s autonomy. LiDAR was chosen because it is designed to provide short-range vision, making it ideal for monitoring blind spots. In addition, the technology was chosen due to its significantly reduced price.
Hesai indicates that the cost has dropped from several hundred thousand yuan to only $200. About a decade ago, these sensors cost over $40,000. The costs have dropped significantly, by approximately 99.5%, thanks to chip integration and mass production. This type of technology is expected to become more important, especially in China. The supplier expected a penetration rate of 19% by the end of 2025.
LiDAR will gradually make its way to more affordable models. BYD plans to offer it on their Seagull models, known in Europe as Dolphin Surf. Similarly, Leapmotor has applied for homologation to equip their small electric compact, the A05. In France, several models are already equipped, including the Lotus Emeya and the Volvo EX90, among others.
