Huge leaps and bounds have been made in the automobile industry over the last few years. Electric cars, cars connected to the World Wide Web and even driverless cars already exist. And it’s quite possible that in the next 10 years or so, such models will be developed even further and become the norm for the average car-owner. But can we go even further than that and predict what cars will be like in say 30 years or more?
You might like to think that by 2050 we’ll be buzzing around on hover boards or some other fantastical invention that has replaced the car. Yet, it’s doubtable that we’ll ever give up such a viable and safe mode of transport. But, you never know, we could give driving up due to the massively destructive effects it has on the world around us.
There will likely be three times more cars on the roads by 2050 due to the ever-increasing motorisation of developing countries. But how will these cars be different to what we’re used to driving today?
They’ll drive themselves.
The car of the future will journey along our roads and motorways all by themselves. Practically all major car companies are working on the technology that could bring this idea into fruition. There are indeed already measures in place that could be precursors of the technology of the future. For example, BMW offers something called traffic jam assistant which supposedly takes control of your car when in dense traffic, so you can just sit back and relax.
Experts predict that humans will still have some input into the workings of the car, despite not needing to drive it in the traditional sense. For instance, there may be some sort of joystick present that the non-driver might use from time to time to direct the vehicle. Plus they will probably be in charge of switching the car’s modes depending on whether car is driving on a motorway or residential road etc.
The benefits of this development are clear. Since human error accounts for the large majority of road accidents, driving could get a lot safer with driverless cars. It will certainly be more efficient too given that the technology will offer centralised traffic control.
Cars of the future will provide above all, a rounded personal mobility service. A substantial rise in population may result in us getting around in personal mobility pods resembling the GM EN-V. Alternatively, large corporation will offer vehicles that are on-demand. You simply type in where you want to go and it’ll take you there, not dissimilar to a taxi service.
They’ll incorporate new technologies and all things digital.
Cars will no doubt be absolutely up-to-date with the latest digital media and technology, whatever that might be in the future. Apple, for example, has been working with various car companies to introduce Siri into cars, thus making your car double as a personal assistant! We imagine that any sort of digital presence from Google to Facebook will be available in the car of the future.
It’s probable too that cars will be significantly cleaner in the future. Fears concerning the threat of global warming will result in the demise of fuel-guzzling internal combustion engines. This is more likely due to the fact that there will be more sources of renewable energy as part of the electricity grid. However, combustion engines may be the only solution for longer journeys. This is because batteries only have a 500-mile range and will be very expensive. But it must be noted however that engineers are still working on making the engine more efficient, meaning that they will still be cleaner. It’s also possible that cars will be powered by hydrogen.
It seems therefore that the car of the future will be more suited to our personal mobility needs. They will also be more energy-efficient and benefit from the integration of digital technologies. Don't forget to check out Stanley R Harris Ltd for the latest vehicle equipment and accessories.
Source: BBC; Image: Leo Hidalgo
You might like to think that by 2050 we’ll be buzzing around on hover boards or some other fantastical invention that has replaced the car. Yet, it’s doubtable that we’ll ever give up such a viable and safe mode of transport. But, you never know, we could give driving up due to the massively destructive effects it has on the world around us.
There will likely be three times more cars on the roads by 2050 due to the ever-increasing motorisation of developing countries. But how will these cars be different to what we’re used to driving today?
They’ll drive themselves.
The car of the future will journey along our roads and motorways all by themselves. Practically all major car companies are working on the technology that could bring this idea into fruition. There are indeed already measures in place that could be precursors of the technology of the future. For example, BMW offers something called traffic jam assistant which supposedly takes control of your car when in dense traffic, so you can just sit back and relax.
Experts predict that humans will still have some input into the workings of the car, despite not needing to drive it in the traditional sense. For instance, there may be some sort of joystick present that the non-driver might use from time to time to direct the vehicle. Plus they will probably be in charge of switching the car’s modes depending on whether car is driving on a motorway or residential road etc.
The benefits of this development are clear. Since human error accounts for the large majority of road accidents, driving could get a lot safer with driverless cars. It will certainly be more efficient too given that the technology will offer centralised traffic control.
Cars of the future will provide above all, a rounded personal mobility service. A substantial rise in population may result in us getting around in personal mobility pods resembling the GM EN-V. Alternatively, large corporation will offer vehicles that are on-demand. You simply type in where you want to go and it’ll take you there, not dissimilar to a taxi service.
They’ll incorporate new technologies and all things digital.
Cars will no doubt be absolutely up-to-date with the latest digital media and technology, whatever that might be in the future. Apple, for example, has been working with various car companies to introduce Siri into cars, thus making your car double as a personal assistant! We imagine that any sort of digital presence from Google to Facebook will be available in the car of the future.
It’s probable too that cars will be significantly cleaner in the future. Fears concerning the threat of global warming will result in the demise of fuel-guzzling internal combustion engines. This is more likely due to the fact that there will be more sources of renewable energy as part of the electricity grid. However, combustion engines may be the only solution for longer journeys. This is because batteries only have a 500-mile range and will be very expensive. But it must be noted however that engineers are still working on making the engine more efficient, meaning that they will still be cleaner. It’s also possible that cars will be powered by hydrogen.
It seems therefore that the car of the future will be more suited to our personal mobility needs. They will also be more energy-efficient and benefit from the integration of digital technologies. Don't forget to check out Stanley R Harris Ltd for the latest vehicle equipment and accessories.
Source: BBC; Image: Leo Hidalgo