Toyota Considers Ethereum Blockchain Integration for Vehicle Mobility
This initiative is part of Toyota’s ongoing exploration of blockchain technology’s potential applications within the automotive industry, aiming to enhance vehicle functionality and user experience through innovative technological solutions.
Enhancing Vehicle Mobility with Blockchain
Toyota’s latest research focuses on incorporating the concept of mobility into public blockchains. The objective is to create a Mobility-Oriented Account (MOA) that uses the Ethereum ERC-4337 standard. This standard aims to improve the user experience of blockchain wallets by utilizing account abstraction, which simplifies wallet management and enhances security.
Overcoming Blockchain Challenges
One of the main challenges highlighted by the Toyota Blockchain Lab is the potential loss of a blockchain account if the in-car device fails. The proposed MOA addresses this issue by ensuring that the blockchain account is retained even if the private key is lost. Account abstraction separates the authentication process from key management, providing a safer and more flexible account management system.
Toyota envisions that the integration of blockchain technology could lead to fully autonomous driving in the future. By creating digital accounts for cars on the blockchain, vehicles could potentially function as independent service entities. This would allow for the tokenization of vehicle rights, making cars capable of operating autonomously without human intervention.
Improving Transparency and Efficiency
Leveraging Ethereum’s blockchain technology would also enhance the transparency and efficiency of managing car information, such as usage history. The ERC-4337 standard allows for the deterministic setting of an address before the account is deployed, bridging existing vehicle ID systems with on-chain addresses. This could streamline the process of accessing and sharing vehicle data.
Toyota has also proposed using Non-Fungible Tokens (NFTs) to manage car access and usage rights. By expressing car access as NFTs tied to the MOA, permissions can be controlled simply by transferring the NFTs. This digital approach to handling “usage rights” could facilitate services such as car sharing, making it easier for developers to implement new mobility services.
Toyota’s Continued Blockchain Exploration
Toyota’s exploration of blockchain technology is not new. The company joined the R3 consortium in 2016 and launched its blockchain lab in 2019 to explore potential applications within the auto industry. Last year, Toyota also provided financial support for Astar Network, a Polkadot parachain, further demonstrating its commitment to blockchain innovation.
