CASE (Connected, Autonomous, Shared, Electric)

Definition (what it is)

CASE is an industry framework describing four converging trends that are reshaping road vehicles and mobility services: connectivity, automated driving, shared-use business models, and electrified propulsion. It is a strategy and technology lens (not a single product or standard) used to characterize the shift from privately owned, internal-combustion vehicles to software-defined, service-centric, low/zero-emission mobility. A vehicle or service can embody one, several, or all four pillars.

Pillars and key technical characteristics

  • Connected
    • Purpose: Link the vehicle to other vehicles, infrastructure, cloud services, user devices, and enterprise back ends.
    • Typical technologies: Telematics control units; cellular (4G/5G, C‑V2X), DSRC, Wi‑Fi/Bluetooth; GNSS; V2X stacks; over‑the‑air (OTA) software/firmware updates; service‑oriented architectures; automotive Ethernet, CAN FD, LIN; digital twins.
    • Functions: Remote diagnostics, eCall, predictive maintenance, infotainment, map/traffic updates, telematics‑based insurance, fleet management, energy services, app‑based access.
    • Security and compliance: Secure boot, hardware security modules (HSM/TPM), encryption, key management; cybersecurity engineering (e.g., ISO/SAE 21434), and software update governance (e.g., UNECE R156).
  • Autonomous
    • Purpose: Automate parts of the driving task, from driver assistance to high automation (SAE Levels 0–5).
    • Typical technologies: Sensor suites (cameras, radar, ultrasonic, and often lidar), high‑precision positioning, HD maps; centralized/domain compute (SoCs, GPUs/AI accelerators); perception, prediction, planning, and control software with sensor fusion; redundant actuation (steering, braking, propulsion).
    • Safety and validation: Functional safety (ISO 26262), Safety of the Intended Functionality (ISO 21448), rigorous simulation and on‑road testing, safety case frameworks, driver monitoring for supervised automation.
  • Shared
    • Purpose: Enable multi‑user utilization models (car‑sharing, ride‑hailing, microtransit, robotaxis) instead of individual ownership.
    • Enablers: Booking/access/payment apps; telematics and fleet back ends for location/state‑of‑charge/health monitoring; usage‑based pricing; remote operations support.
    • Design implications: Durability and cleanability of interiors, fast turnaround, robust HMI, anti‑vandalism features, lifecycle‑cost optimization (TCO), duty‑cycle‑appropriate thermal and charging strategies.
  • Electric
    • Purpose: Replace or supplement internal combustion with electrified propulsion (primarily BEVs; also PHEVs and FCEVs in some contexts).
    • Typical technologies: High‑voltage traction batteries; power electronics (inverters, DC/DC converters, onboard chargers); e‑axles/traction motors; thermal management; charging hardware and interfaces (AC and DC fast charging).
    • Standards/interfaces: ISO 15118 (incl. Plug & Charge), CCS (Combo), CHAdeMO/ChaoJi, GB/T, and emerging V2G/V2H/V2B integrations with grids and buildings.

Relevance to modern EV and mobility design

  • Systems architecture: CASE drives centralized or zonal E/E architectures with high‑bandwidth networking to support AD sensing/compute, OTA updates, and continuous feature delivery in software‑defined vehicles.
  • Energy and operations: Connectivity integrates EVs with charging networks and grid services (smart charging, V2G), while autonomy and shared use shape battery sizing, thermal robustness, and charging profiles for high utilization fleets.
  • Safety and security: Combined high‑voltage systems and connected/autonomous features require rigorous functional safety, cybersecurity (e.g., UNECE R155) and software update compliance (UNECE R156), influencing redundancy, partitioning, and lifecycle processes.
  • User experience and services: CASE underpins personalized HMI, usage‑based insurance, fleet telematics, subscription features, and ecosystem integrations (mobility platforms, payments, energy services).
  • Synergies: EV drivetrains provide precise torque control and packaging advantages for autonomy; connectivity enables fleet‑scale optimization; shared models amplify the economics of electrification and automation.

Synonyms and related terms

  • Variants: ACES (Autonomous, Connected, Electric, Shared); CASE (term popularized by Daimler and others); less common frameworks such as MADE (Mobility, Autonomy, Digitalization, Electrification).
  • Related concepts: Software‑defined vehicle (SDV), E/E architecture, ADAS/AD, V2X, Mobility‑as‑a‑Service (MaaS), digital twin, OTA updates, zonal architecture, vehicle‑to‑grid (V2G).

Materials and manufacturing influences (typical examples)

  • Connected/autonomous electronics and sensors
    • Materials/components: Automotive‑grade semiconductors (Si; SiC/GaN for power; SiGe/GaAs for RF), high‑reliability PCBs, EMC shielding materials, thermal interface materials, RF‑optimized polymers/ceramics.
    • Sensor modules: CMOS image sensors; radar transceivers; lidar emitters/detectors (e.g., VCSELs, APD/SiPM); optical‑grade glass/polycarbonate windows with anti‑reflective/hydrophobic coatings; heated/cleaning systems.
    • Housings/mounts: Aluminum/magnesium castings or extrusions; PC‑ABS, PA, PBT; elastomeric gaskets (EPDM/FKM) for IP sealing and vibration isolation.
    • Manufacturing: SMT assembly, die attach (solder/sinter), wire bonding, overmolding, conformal coating, automated optical/X‑ray inspection, end‑of‑line calibration.
  • Shared‑use design considerations
    • Interiors: Abrasion‑resistant, easy‑to‑clean surfaces (TPO, TPU‑coated fabrics, PVC‑free synthetics), antimicrobial/chemical‑resistant finishes, modular seats and trims for rapid service.
    • Exteriors: Impact/scratch‑resistant coatings and polymer panels; sensor‑guard geometries; easily replaceable trim.
  • Electric propulsion and energy storage
    • Battery cells: Lithium‑ion chemistries (NMC, NCA, LFP; emerging LMFP and solid‑state), separators with ceramic coatings, electrolytes; formats (cylindrical, prismatic, pouch).
    • Packs/modules: Aluminum or steel enclosures; structural adhesives; thermal propagation barriers (mica, aerogel); potting/encapsulation; liquid cold plates (brazed microchannels or extrusions); HVIL and fusing.
    • Power electronics/motors: SiC MOSFET or IGBT modules; GaN for onboard chargers/DC‑DC; DBC/AMB ceramic substrates; copper busbars; traction motors with electrical steel laminations, copper hairpin windings, and NdFeB magnets (or induction/reluctance designs); die‑cast housings/e‑axles.
    • Body/chassis integration: Lightweighting via AHSS, hot‑stamped boron steels, aluminum sheet/extrusions/cast nodes; selective CFRP/GFRP use; structural battery or cell‑to‑pack/chassis concepts.
    • Manufacturing: Electrode coating/calendaring, stacking/winding, formation/aging; laser/ultrasonic welding (tabs, busbars), adhesive bonding, leak/HV tests; high‑voltage harnessing with shielded cables and robust crimp/splice processes; end‑of‑line OTA provisioning and cryptographic key injection.

Challenges and considerations

  • Infrastructure and standardization: Charging availability and interoperability; V2X deployment; map data and communications coverage.
  • Safety, security, and privacy: Validation of automated systems, continuous vulnerability management, and responsible data handling.
  • Cost and sustainability: Upfront cost of sensors/compute/batteries, total cost of ownership for fleets, material criticality (e.g., battery metals, rare earths), recyclability and second‑life pathways.
  • Policy and social factors: Evolving regulations, liability/ethics for autonomy, equitable access to shared mobility.

In sum, CASE is a unifying framework that guides how vehicles are engineered and how mobility services are delivered, emphasizing digital connectivity, increasing automation, shared utilization, and electrified propulsion to achieve safer, cleaner, and more efficient transportation.