Overview
ISO 37168:2022 - Smart community infrastructures provides high-level guidance for staged implementation of Electric, Connected and Autonomous Vehicles (eCAVs) for passenger and delivery services, with a special focus on on‑demand responsive passenger services with shared vehicles. The standard aims to accelerate innovation and enable smart transportation in and between cities by addressing policy, operational and infrastructure considerations rather than detailed vehicle design (technical vehicle specifics such as pods / L‑SAT vehicles are covered by ISO 22737).
Key topics and technical requirements
ISO 37168:2022 lays out common considerations and practical requirements for adoption of eCAV transportation, including:
- Goals and benefits of eCAV deployment: improved accessibility, reduced congestion, lower emissions, enhanced safety and more efficient use of road space.
- Basic characteristics of eCAVs: integration of electric propulsion, connectivity (V2V, V2N, V2I) and autonomous driving capabilities.
- Target operating environments and staged implementation strategies for urban, compact‑city and intercity scenarios.
- Technical prerequisites and objectives: digital and physical infrastructure readiness, secure Vehicle‑to‑Everything communications (5G/WLAN referenced), interoperability of shared vehicle and passenger data, and control systems needed for orchestration.
- Service typologies and governance: approaches for on‑demand responsive shared services, roles of transport authorities, legal and regulatory frameworks, public engagement and data privacy/security.
- Quality maintenance and oversight: continuous governance, monitoring parameters and long‑term urban accommodation for autonomous buses and delivery pods.
- Challenges and mitigation: integration with mixed traffic, safety assurance, public acceptance and scaling beyond pilot projects.
The document focuses on guidance rather than prescriptive technical specifications.
Practical applications and who will use it
ISO 37168:2022 is intended for organizations involved in planning, deploying and regulating smart mobility services:
- City and regional transport authorities developing policy, service frameworks and regulation for eCAVs.
- Mobility service operators and transport planners designing on‑demand shared vehicle services and autonomous bus networks.
- Infrastructure and ITS providers preparing communications, charging, curb and depot infrastructure.
- Urban planners and municipal governments assessing land use, accessibility and public engagement strategies.
- Technology integrators and system architects building interoperable control systems, fleet management and data platforms.
- Public‑policy and safety stakeholders evaluating legal, privacy and safety oversight.
Use cases include demand‑responsive shared passenger transport, autonomous feeder buses, intracity pods and first/last‑mile delivery services.
Related standards
- ISO 22737 - technical requirements for L‑SAT/pod vehicles (technical vehicle details).
- ISO 37181 - complementary considerations for eCAV applications to public transport.
- ISO Guide 82 - sustainability considerations referenced in development.
Keywords: ISO 37168:2022, eCAV, smart transportation, autonomous buses, on‑demand responsive services, shared vehicles, electric connected autonomous vehicles, smart cities.