Skip to main content

Can video games make our streets smarter? Ford’s Smart Mobility Challenge hopes to do just that

Ford’s Smart Mobility Challenge is a multi-tiered project with a simple objective — change the way the world moves. More specifically, the American carmaker looks to make strides in automotive connectivity, innovation, mobility, and autonomous tech, and it’s doing so with help from the world of video games.

According to Ford, gamers deliver “a fresh perspective on mobility,” and a group of them have been doing so since August by developing games that integrate different types of transit. Grand Theft Auto-style hi-jinks may be the most fun way to get from A to B, but these games strive for efficiency by mixing public transportation, driving, cycling, walking, and more.

Recommended Videos

“Gaming enables people to access data in a fun, engaging and rewarding way, and by encouraging people to share data, gaming offers the potential for better planning of personal journeys, and more seamless, less stressful travel,” said Will Farrelly of Ford Product Innovation. “The fresh perspectives and innovative ideas delivered by developers through the Ford Smart Mobility Game Challenge demonstrate the potential for gaming to have a hugely positive impact on the next generation of transport solutions.”

Six finalists have officially been chosen by the manufacturer, and they now have until January 11, 2016 to fully develop their concepts. Once that happens, a special jury will whittle the group down to three, who will present their games at the Mobile World Congress on February 22. The winner will go on to receive €17,500 ($18,668) in prizes, including €10,000 ($10,663) in cash.

Ford Smart Mobility Challenge
Image used with permission by copyright holder

The six finalist games are deCommute, ECO Saviour, Jaunt, SelfieGO, moopi, and wave-calmer, and each has its own unique style and personality. deCommute is a basic route-planning game, but it rewards users for finding the most adventurous path, conserving energy, and managing time efficiently. By contrast, ECO Saviour is a multiplayer game where players enter a virtual version of their city and attempt to reduce smog by traveling in the most environmentally-conscious manner.

In a similar vein, Jaunt presents an interactive experience where users are matched with companions for typical commutes and outings, but instead of cleaning up the air, the goals are saving money and traveling safely. Next up is SelfieGO, and as its name suggests, it uses a GPS-enabled map to show the best commuting routes for selfie optimization. Of course, you can also share your photos on social media.

The last two finalists were selected from Ford’s Smart Mobility Hackathon, which took place at the Clash of Realities international digital games conference in Cologne, Germany earlier this month. The first entrant is called moopi — an app concept that enables players to raise and nurture a “moopi” avatar by using the road network in the most efficient manner. The last finalist is dubbed wave-calmer, and it encourages drivers to prevent traffic jams by maintaining a steady speed using graphics projected onto a virtual windscreen.

Which game will take the prize? More importantly, how will it affect the next wave of Ford vehicles? Stay tuned to DT Cars to find out.

Andrew Hard
Andrew first started writing in middle school and hasn't put the pen down since. Whether it's technology, music, sports, or…
Toyota unveils 2026 bZ: A smarter, longer-range electric SUV
toyota bz improved bz4x 2026 0007 1500x1125

Toyota is back in the electric SUV game with the 2026 bZ, a major refresh of its bZ4X that finally delivers on two of the biggest demands from EV drivers: more range and faster charging.
The headline news is the improved driving range. Toyota now estimates up to 314 miles on a single charge for the front-wheel-drive model with the larger 74.7-kWh battery—about 60 miles more than the outgoing bZ4X. All-wheel-drive variants also get a boost, with up to 288 miles of range depending on trim.
Charging speeds haven’t increased in terms of raw kilowatts (still capped at 150 kW for DC fast charging), but Toyota has significantly improved how long peak speeds are sustained. With preconditioning enabled—especially helpful in colder weather—the new bZ can charge from 10% to 80% in about 30 minutes. Also new: Plug and Charge support for automatic payment at compatible stations and full adoption of the North American Charging Standard (NACS), meaning access to Tesla Superchargers will be standard by 2026.
Under the hood, or rather the floor, Toyota has swapped in higher-performance silicon carbide components to improve efficiency and power delivery. The AWD version now produces up to 338 horsepower and sprints from 0–60 mph in a brisk 4.9 seconds.
Toyota didn’t stop at just the powertrain. The exterior has been cleaned up, with body-colored wheel arches replacing the black cladding, and a sleeker front fascia. Inside, a larger 14-inch touchscreen now houses climate controls, giving the dash a more refined and less cluttered appearance. There’s also more usable storage thanks to a redesigned center console.
With the 2026 bZ, Toyota seems to be responding directly to critiques of the bZ4X. It’s faster, more efficient, and more driver-friendly—finally bringing Toyota’s EV efforts up to speed.

Read more
Cheaper EVs ahead? GM and LG say new battery cells are the key
2025 Chevrolet Equinox EV front quarter view.

General Motors and LG Energy Solution have announced a new phase in their ongoing partnership: developing a new battery cell chemistry that could significantly lower the cost of electric vehicles. The joint effort centers on lithium manganese iron phosphate (LMFP) battery cells, a variation of lithium iron phosphate (LFP) that’s gaining popularity for being more affordable and less reliant on expensive materials like nickel and cobalt.

This is a big deal because battery costs are still the single largest expense in producing EVs. According to GM and industry experts, LMFP cells could help bring the cost of electric vehicles close to — or even on par with — gas-powered cars. The goal? Making EVs accessible to a broader range of drivers without sacrificing range or performance.

Read more
Waymo recalled 1,200 robotaxis following collisions with road barriers
Waymo Jaguar I-Pace

Waymo’s autonomous-car technology has made great advances over the years to the point where it’s now allowed to offer paid robotaxi rides in select locations in the U.S.

But the development of the technology is ongoing, and the robotaxi rides continue to gather valuable data for Waymo engineers to pore over as they further refine the driverless system to make it as reliable and efficient as possible. Which is why glitches will sometimes occur.

Read more