An analysis of V2X OBU design alternatives: Dedicated Short Range Communication (DSRC) and Cellular-V2X.
Nationwide, United States
Summary Information
This research analyzed the cost of alternative on-board unit (OBU) configurations required to support vehicle-to-everything (V2X) applications for light vehicles. The following primary cost drivers were identified for a V2X communication system that uses a central telematics control unit (TCU) for basic safety message (BSM) broadcast and receiving.
Hardware
- Processing: System-on-a-Chip (SoC), Low-energy Microcontroller unit (MCU ), Hardware Security Module (HSM)
- Connectivity: Modem, Radio
- Memory: Random-Access Memory (RAM), Read-Only Memory (ROM)/Flash
- Power Management: Power Management Integrated Circuit (PMIC), Standby battery
- Sensors: Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS), Inertial-Measurement Unit (IMU)
- Packaging: Printed Circuit Board (PCB), Connectors, Casing, Passive elements
- Interfaces: Controller Area Network (CAN), Ethernet
- Antenna: Connectors, Wiring, Antenna.
Software
- Real-time operating system and AUTOSAR communication stacks
- Application software and stacks: Broadband connectivity processing and V2X communication.
Overhead
- Sales, General and Administrative Expenses
- Research and development
- Testing and validation
- Manufacturing costs.
The following alternate configurations compared incremental costs for V2X functionality in vehicles that have an existing TCU Module.
- Distinct Products Within Vehicle: An OBU (DSRC or C-V2X) equipped with GNSS is detached from an optional TCU equipped with a GNSS and a Wireless Wide Area Network (WWAN) cellular modem.
- Highest incremental cost: $129 (Range: $104-$165) per vehicle
- Highest execution complexity
- Moderate market alignment.
- One Product/ Two Systems (Unfavorable Design): An OBU (C-V2X or DSRC) equipped with GNSS is integrated into the same casing a TCU equipped with a GNSS and WWAN cellular modem.
- Incremental cost: $120 (Range: $98-$153) per vehicle
- Complex to execute
- Extremely poor market alignment.
- Highly Integrated System: OBU (DSRC or C-V2X) is highly integrated with a TCU and WWAN cellular modem and share a GNSS. Processing and communication functions are combined.
- Moderate incremental cost: $61 (Range: $50-$74) per vehicle
- Moderate execution complexity
- Poor market alignment.
- Fully Integrated System (Optimal Design): OBU (C-V2X only) integrated with existing TCU (most vehicles circa 2025 will likely have V2V capable TCUs).
- Concept A: LTE (4G long term evolution) and C-V2X with WWAN cellular modem application processor separate from a GNSS.
- Incremental cost: $40 (Range: $33-$48) per vehicle
- Base modem cost $137 (Range: $104-$174) per vehicle
- Total cost $177 per vehicle.
- Concept B: LTE and C-V2X with WWAN cellular modem application processor as master of GNSS.
- Incremental cost: $23 (Range: $21-$28) per vehicle
- Base modem cost $137 (Range: $104-$174) per vehicle
- Total cost $160 per vehicle.
- Concept A: LTE (4G long term evolution) and C-V2X with WWAN cellular modem application processor separate from a GNSS.
Overall, increasing the degree of logical and physical integration yields higher cost savings and lowers implementation complexity for the automotive industry. Direct costs savings can be realized through a decrease of redundant hardware in the delivery chain.
Cost Analysis of V2I Deployment
V2X (DSRC radio or Cellular-V2X) in-vehicle module configurations: $50 to $222 per vehicle (not including installation).