Automotive Software in Connected and Autonomous Electric Vehicles: A Review

In the last decade, electric vehicles (EVs) have emerged as a sustainable transportation alternative to traditional internal combustion engine (ICE) cars, with automotive software as the key driver behind the advancements. A well-defined information and communication technology (ICT) architecture, comprised of electronics and software, can increase an EV's energy and cost efficiency, safety and comfort. With connected and autonomous electric vehicles (CAEVs) fast becoming a reality, the importance of software in vehicles increases tenfold. This paper serves as an introduction into the field of electromobility and automotive software. It provides an overview of the software and ICT architecture found in CAEVs and identifies future trends and challenges in automotive software development.