But they should be simple and easy to use. Here are ten new innovative technologies that will appear on cars in the coming years.
1) Solar battery chargers.
Despite the fact that this technology appeared quite a long time ago, due to the high cost of using solar energy on cars, it has not yet received widespread use in the automotive industry. But very soon a significant breakthrough is expected in solar cell technology, the cost of production of which should decrease tenfold.
Thanks to car solar panels, you can charge the battery, power the car's air conditioning or infotainment system. This technology is an excellent way to reduce, without reducing the power of the car.
If solar technology becomes cheaper, there is a good chance that many cars will have solar panels as standard equipment in the not-too-distant future.
2) Display on the windshield of the car.
If you have driven a car with HUD technology, you have probably noticed that this technology is not just a convenience for the driver. Thus, it increases driver safety when driving a car.
The driver, having all the important information (fuel level, engine temperature, speed, etc.), is less likely to distract his attention from the road situation. Currently, this technology is already used on premium cars as an additional option. But soon, this feature will appear as standard on many middle-class cars, and subsequently in cheaper cars.
Windshield projection is one of the best in-car features to come out in recent years. Let us remember that this technology was previously used in military aircraft, helping pilots make decisions in a split second.
3) Manual transmission without clutch.
This technology was first used by Nissan on its sports cars. Although many automakers claim that the manual transmission has outlived its usefulness and is much better, this is actually not the case. This is especially true for sports cars, which require maximum acceleration without losing speed. In 2009, Nissan was the first company in the world to use the technology of shifting and synchronizing engine speed on its cars using a mechanical transmission without a clutch.
You can read more about this technology. It is possible that this technology may soon appear on many cars, since compared to an automatic transmission, a manual transmission can save more fuel.
4) Use of engine thermal energy.
The internal combustion engine creates a lot of thermal energy, much of which is unused. Not long ago, a regenerative braking system appeared in the automotive industry, allowing to save fuel and reduce the level of harmful substances in car exhaust. So, when braking, one wheel of a car emits 96 kJ of thermal energy, which, with the help of special equipment.
This energy is sent to the vehicle's electrical circuit, which subsequently charges the battery of a conventional car or the battery of a hybrid car. Over the past few years, this technology has been developing at a breakneck pace and will most likely appear on many inexpensive cars within 5-7 years.
5) KERS flywheel system.
This system first appeared on Formula 1 sports cars, allowing the car to accumulate energy during operation of the engine and braking system, and subsequently use it to give the car additional acceleration. This system is currently being tested on a production vehicle prototype.
The kinetic energy recovery system, which was only available to supercars, is slowly but surely being introduced to passenger production cars. It's not far off when the KERS system will appear on middle-class cars. Note that this system with a special flywheel design increases not only the car’s power, but also increases it by 20-30 percent.
6) Intelligent car suspension.
Today, what seemed like a fantasy for 10-15 years, you can get an adaptive suspension with magnetic shock absorbers for quite little money on some premium cars as an additional option. In the near future, a fully intelligent car suspension will appear, which, using many sensors and an electronic control unit, will monitor the road surface every second.
Information about unevenness and quality of the road surface will be sent to a special computer, which, using special algorithms, will predict in advance, instructing the electronic suspension how to soften the impact of the wheels as much as possible when hitting an uneven road. Thus, maximum comfort will be achieved when traveling in a car and maximum savings in wear on the elements of the vehicle’s chassis.
7) Reduced cost of carbon fiber.
In the coming years, in order to reduce, manufacturers can only introduce l into the design of cars. The cost of this material has decreased significantly in recent years. Therefore, the massive use of carbon fiber in the automotive industry cannot be stopped. It is possible that in 10-15 years, almost all cars will be made of more than 50 percent carbon fiber.
8) Engine without camshaft.
The engine without camshafts reduces the level of harmful vehicle emissions. At the moment, such automobile companies as Valeo, Ricardo PLC, Lotus Engineering, Koenigsegg and Cargine have already researched this technology and in the future are ready to mass produce engines without camshafts.
Instead of camshafts, such engines are equipped with electromagnetic, hydraulic or pneumatic actuators for controlling injection valves.
9) Autopilot in a car.
Skeptics who a few years ago said that in the near future the appearance in cars of technologies that would allow electronics to control a car without the participation of the driver were mistaken. Nowadays, we must accept the fact that self-driving cars are already on the roads.
In many cars, a parking assistance system has become widespread, allowing you to park the car in a parking lot without driver intervention. This system works using various sensors that inform the car about an obstacle. But with the advent of the new, automatic driving without driver participation has acquired a new meaning.
At a high enough speed, the new one can drive a car without a driver, and in case of an obstacle, automatically reduce speed or stop. Apparently, this technology will soon begin to appear on middle-class cars.
10) Alternative fuels.
If not within 10 years, then in 20-30 years, our world will definitely face a shortage of oil reserves, which will affect the shortage of gasoline and diesel fuel. Accordingly, the cost of traditional fuel for cars will be very high. So, the search for a new source of fuel for the automotive industry is very important. Unfortunately, no alternative to oil has yet been found. All other fuel sources that replace gasoline and diesel fuel have both their pros and cons, which is why they have not yet received mass distribution.
Thus, cars powered by hydrogen fuel have not received widespread use due to the fact that hydrogen fuel must be stored in special massive containers. In addition, hydrogen fuel requires a huge infrastructure around the world, which is practically undeveloped at the moment. , most likely, even in 50-70 years they will not become a serious replacement for cars with internal combustion engines. This is due to the fact that since they need to be constantly charged.
The emergence of new batteries with a greater capacity of electricity than now is not expected in the near future. So, in order to become an alternative to traditional fuel, electric batteries must contain several times more energy than now and weigh several times less, as well as be several times smaller in size, which is not realistic with today's developments.
So, the question of the new fuel that the cars of the future will run on remains open. It is quite possible that over the next decade, someone will discover a new, environmentally friendly, cheap alternative fuel that can revolutionize the auto industry and then, perhaps, in 10-20 years we will see completely new cars, not similar to those that surround us today.
It is difficult to answer what cars will be like in the near future. But we can say for sure that the priority will be environmentally friendly, practical, convenient and compact models. Maybe it will be a transformer that will capture the imagination of many car owners. Flying cars of the future are clearly from the world of science fiction, but devices with artificial intelligence that are as close to ideal as possible will definitely win hearts.
Energy consumption
It is worth noting that engines now require less fuel than 5 years ago. Scientists' developments converge on one idea: to minimize the amount of emissions into the atmosphere, which will have a beneficial effect on the environment as a whole. In order to create such an engine, it is necessary to completely update the technical control and equip it with electronic programs. This means that very soon there will be a car of the future, which practically does not require energy and will run on fuel of natural origin.
We can say with confidence that in the future it will be economical and powerful. Such a concept as internal combustion engine will simply disappear from everyday life. Some German automobile companies have already signed a special contract under which they undertake to completely stop the production of traditional engines by 2050. In Japan, this is viewed with some distrust; companies in the Land of the Rising Sun claim that it will be possible to rid cars of oil no earlier than 2060.
Environmental friendliness
The car of the future will not pollute the world around us. Perhaps this trend appeared quite a long time ago and is being pursued by all car manufacturers. There is a possibility that very soon a new type of engine will appear that will be absolutely safe for the environment.
So far, there are two most realistic ideas about the engine of the future:
- Hydrogen. Due to the fact that it will soon become quite cheap, engine production will become profitable for many automobile companies.
- Electric. There is a possibility of creating a unit that can be charged from an outlet or using chargers.
Safety
In order to avoid deaths and serious consequences after an accident, it is necessary to ensure complete safety. The car of the future will most likely be self-driving, which will already allow 90% of road accidents to be avoided.
It is also worth mentioning that when creating the intelligence that will drive the vehicle, the interior of the car will change somewhat. It’s unlikely that the usual design will remain. There is a high probability that the salon will look like a cabin with a sofa and a projector in the center. of the future will be based on electronics. Mechanical parts will completely disappear, which will increase safety. It is also necessary to take into account that the person in the cabin will only have to enter data about the place where he wants to go, the car will do the rest for him.
Vehicle dimensions
Few would argue that more and more cars are appearing on the roads. And there is less and less space left on the roadway. That is why compactness is a priority when developing such a unit as the car of the future. What it will be like is difficult to say now, but we can assume that, most likely, the dimensions of the body will be reduced as much as possible in comparison with conventional models, and perhaps the cars will even become transformable.
Although there is also the opposite assumption - the car will be huge in shape in order to create the most comfortable conditions for the driver and passengers.
The versions that talk about moving car interiors seem interesting: when they will transform depending on the situation. Sports cars may well have manual control, along with automatic control. Just imagine what pleasure the driver will receive after several months without a steering wheel or pedals!
Tires without air
For a long time in the field of automobile creation, the task of creating tires that would have the highest level of safety and would not be damaged appeared. Previously it was believed that an inflatable tire was the solution to this issue, but this is not the case. An ordinary car moves thanks to the support, which “affects” the suspension.
There are speculations that mesh spoke tires will be fitted to the car of the future. What will he be like with such “equipment”? We can only guess. When using this equipment, the machine will not rely on air, but on rubber spokes, made using a technology that allows it to boast high strength and flexibility. These tires are now produced by Bridgestone. However, they are currently only used on golf carts. The company's task is to experiment with load-carrying capacity, and soon the car of the future (photo below) will ride on just such supernova tires.
What will the car of the future be left without?
- Music player. It is already on the verge of extinction in modern cars. The reason for this is that more and more drivers are using iPods and smartphones. In order to listen to music, just connect your gadget to the car system using headphones or wireless programs.
- Buttons. Most likely, the car of the future (photo below) will be equipped with a touch panel.
- Mechanical gear shift lever. Already, the vast majority of cars have an automatic transmission.
- Large engines.
- Large-scale vehicle equipment. Advanced equipment, although slowly, has almost gone out of fashion and few companies can offer a car that has many options and design options.
In addition to the usual optional disappearances, you will have to say goodbye to “pure” SUVs. At the moment, the market cannot offer truly durable cars that can conquer off-road terrain without difficulty.
All machines will operate on the same future technology. These cars will amaze everyone, even the most skeptical drivers!
CityCar
It so happened historically that for several decades people have been moving to live in cities, leaving villages and villages. Therefore, as the population grows, highways become overcrowded. This is especially felt in big cities. In order to skillfully maneuver among other cars, you need a compact car. She can squeeze into the smallest parking space. Concepts for cars of the future are constantly changing, but one thing remains unchanged - the desire to make your vehicle the smallest and most convenient.
An excellent solution would be the CityCar. She can easily walk on the sidewalks without creating discomfort when moving. Its length is 2.5 meters when unfolded, and 1.5 when folded. Exit for the driver is provided both through the door and through the windshield. Therefore, there will be no problems with parking.
AirPod
AirPod can be called the safest car in the world. His “children” may well become the machines of the future. Nowadays there are already cars that run on garbage and electricity. This same example starts with nothing more than air. Carbon dioxide emissions into the environment are almost zero. The engine operates using pistons, just like an internal combustion engine, but they do not process fuel, but a compressed air mixture. The difficulties of such a car are that in the event of an accident there is a possibility of an explosion of the engine. But the manufacturers took care of this, and if there is mechanical damage, the tank cracks, causing the mixture to escape from the engine.
Companies are striving to create a car that can both carry a person and park for him. These are the people who see the car of the future. A similar vehicle was proposed by Google.
This car is based on the Toyota Prius. It is capable of traveling more than 500 thousand kilometers. However, it can only be operated in Nevada and California for now. There are no laws prohibiting the use of self-driving cars.
The meaning of the machine's operation is that a special radar is installed on its roof, emitting invisible rays. They “examine” the space around them, mirrors help them in this, and the data is transferred to the processor. The bumpers are equipped with touch panels, they allow you to avoid collisions with anyone. The windshield “monitors” with the help of a camera what traffic lights and road signs are installed ahead or in another part of the road. GPS is responsible for choosing the route. He chooses the most successful and shortest path.
Who wouldn't like to take a peek into the future? The first thing that comes to mind when thinking about what the cities of the next centuries will look like are new cars, incredible concept cars with the most outlandish designs and amazing features, hovering at the tops of skyscrapers.
Today we are on the verge of exciting cars equipped with the most outstanding technologies, as car manufacturers have entered into a real battle to create the most futuristic and innovative model. Very soon your car will be driving without your participation in driving, because all kinds of cameras, sensors, on-board computers and even an analogue of artificial intelligence have already been developed for this.
In this collection you will find 25 selected examples of what we will drive and fly not only in the distant future, but very soon!
25. Terrafugia TF-X
The Terrafugia TF-X model is designed specifically for those who are concerned about increasing traffic and congestion on city streets. But we have good news - new cars will be able to fly through the air! In addition, the driver of the next decades and centuries will simply enter the destination into the program, and his vehicle will take care of the rest.
24. Toyota Concept-i
Photo: Toyota
In a world of self-driving cars, Toyota wants to make sure that travel is still fun. This is why she designed her Concept-i model. The new car will still have a steering wheel, but it will look more like a video game controller than a regular wheel. At the same time, the model will be equipped with an AI (artificial intelligence) system, which will be the main advantage of this concept car. The smart system will be able to replace the driver or always protect him if he gets distracted by something and makes a mistake in driving. To interact with the driver, the AI has a special screen on which an animated avatar will be waiting for you, ready to help you communicate with the Toyota Concept-i computer.
23.Honda NeuV
Photo: Honda
Honda NeuV is a minicar equipped with artificial intelligence that is able to recognize the driver’s emotions and, based on them, offer him appropriate assistance or recommendations. The entire instrument panel is presented in the form of a long touch screen. In addition, the car has a payment terminal, so you can make purchases on the go.
22. Chevrolet FNR
Photo: RisteJordanoski
The new Chevrolet FNR model looks just like a car from a sci-fi movie, and provides a glimpse into the future of our roads. Of course, like other futuristic cars, the Chevrolet FNR is equipped with an autonomous control system, and the driver can, if desired, simply relax and not take part in driving his vehicle. In addition, this car has laser headlights and lambo doors.
21. Chevrolet EN-V
Photo: segwaysocial2
The new Chevrolet EN-V looks a lot like a ladybug. This compact car is designed for a driver and 1 passenger, equipped with lambo doors, cameras, sensors and software that allows you to communicate with other cars on the road.
20. Toyota Nori
Photo: wikicars
Toyota Nori was named after algae, and it looks just like a beetle on wheels. This car is designed to successfully withstand all the challenges of modern roads, and at the same time be the most environmentally friendly transport possible. A solar panel system has been added to the design of the machine.
19. Mitsubishi MMR25
Photo: Pinterest.com
The Mitsubishi MMR25 concept car is something! The original design, which begs to be used in a movie about the future of big cities, cannot but surprise even the most sophisticated car enthusiasts. The car body is equipped with cameras and sensors, and inside the cabin there are screens on which you can see everything that is happening outside. Each wheel contains 9 motors. The Mitsubishi MMR25 will be an extremely economical vehicle, capable of traveling up to 1,600 kilometers on a single charge.
18.EDAG Light Cocoon
Photo: Werner Bayer / flickr
There is great news for fans of original lighting! Meet the new EDAG Light Cocoon sports car, the main distinguishing feature of which is the unique external body of this car. The car is clearly visible on the night road, very light and equipped with an advanced system for responding to any weather conditions.
17. Mercedes Benz BIOME
Photo: Pinterest.com
If you dream of an eco-friendly car, this model is your best choice. Its external and internal parts are made from materials grown from genetically modified seeds. In addition, the car runs on vegetable oil. The car is made of organic material, and therefore at the end of its life, when its operation is completed, the Mercedes Benz BIOME will not end up as another wreck in the local car dump, but will be dissociated naturally.
16.Toyota FV2
Photo: Morio
This concept car has no brake pads, no steering wheel, and no gas pedal, making it very reminiscent of the cars from the 1982 sci-fi action movie Tron. Toyota FV2 is equipped with a facial recognition system that analyzes the driver’s body weight and reads his movements to make maneuvers and increase speed or braking. The car is also equipped with an extremely realistic screen that displays everything that happens outside the unique concept car.
15. Cadillac Aera
Photo: Cadillac
The Cadillac Aera is assembled by incredibly creative engineers! Its frame consists of a cast structure, and its transmission is powered by compressed air. The model was inspired by examples from the nature around us.
14. Renault KWID
Photo: Mariordo (Mario Roberto Durán Ortiz)
Two of the most incredible qualities of the new Renault KWID are its unique design and the inclusion of a drone. Yes, you heard right, drone. Firstly, this car differs from others in that the driver sits in the middle of the cabin, and not to the right or left of the center. Secondly, it is installed on its roof, so at any moment you can find out what awaits you over the horizon, simply by launching your little electronic scout in front of your car.
13. Toyota iRoad
Photo: Clément Bucco-Lechat
The new Toyota iRoad is not so much a car as it is a combination of a motorcycle and a car. It is designed specifically for city driving and reaches a speed of up to 59 kilometers per hour. The unique suspension of this model allows it to bypass the most difficult and tight sections of the road and maneuver among the streets with particular ease, which is so important in overpopulated and agglomerated cities.
12. Faraday Future FF 91
Photo: Smnt, FF91
Buckle up, because the new Faraday Future FF 91 can hit 60 mph in just 2.39 seconds! And this is just the beginning... The car is equipped with a semi-autonomous artificial intelligence system and can park without driver assistance, opens the doors itself, and sets the temperature in the cabin according to the weather and the owner’s tastes. The list of innovations can be continued, but let at least some of them remain a secret for now. Faraday Future FF 91 will appear on the market in 2018, but for now in a very limited edition.
11. Google Waymo Car
Photo: Grendelkhan
Google was one of the leaders in the development of self-driving cars, and largely influenced the advancement of this technology. The company's project is called Waymo, and every day it is developing more and more rapidly. Like the other concept cars on this list, the Google Waymo Car is equipped with cameras, sensors, and artificial intelligence that help the car recognize obstacles in its path and avoid them without driver input. Google's prototype car is already being tested in real conditions.
10.Mercedes-Benz G-Code
Photo: Mercedes
Mercedes-Benz G-Code is a true harbinger of the future of automotive technology. The model clearly demonstrates what a futuristic self-propelled car will look like, but it also has another unique quality that sets it apart from many other concept cars. The body of the car is covered with a special paint that is capable of absorbing solar heat and converting it into energy for vehicle movement. It looks like solar panel technology will have a strong place in our future as an integral way to generate energy not only at home, but even for travel and travel.
9. Kia Pop
Photo: El monty, Kia Pop (38)
Let's not forget about electric energy sources, because the future lies with them too, and the Kia Pop model is direct proof of this. This compact car takes up only 2.7 meters in a parking lot and can accelerate to 140 kilometers per hour. However, a six-hour charge is still only enough for 160 kilometers, which means that it still won’t go far out of town.
8. Chevrolet Chaparral 2X Vision GT
Photo: Chevrolet
This car is built specifically for Gran Turismo racing, and its futuristic design will blow the minds of any car enthusiast. The Chevrolet Chaparral 2X Vision GT has tons of incredible qualities and features. For example, to drive such a car, you will have to lie down and not sit behind the wheel. The car's engine is powered by a laser, and the driver's helmet is equipped with a special display. The new car accelerates to an insane speed of 386 kilometers per hour!
7. aeroMobil 3.0
Photo: WIkipedia Commons.com
The aeroMobil 3.0 is another futuristic concept that combines both an airplane and a car, equipped with folding wings and a propeller at the rear. No wonder the driver's seat resembles a pilot's seat. This is a true universal vehicle that can be used to reach your destination both by air and by land.
6. BMW GINA
Photo: ravas51, BMW Gina Museum
Do you quickly get bored with the design of your car, its shape or color? The new BMW GINA is a celebration of diversity, because with such a car you can change its appearance whenever you want. The outer part of the concept car is covered with a special material instead of steel or aluminum, which allows you to constantly experiment with its appearance if desired. But don't worry, this material is very durable, waterproof and elastic, so it will serve you for a long time and reliably.
5. Mercedes-Benz F 015
Photo: Max Pixel.com
Mercedes-Benz F 015 is a true concept car of the future. This car does not have a steering wheel, passengers sit opposite each other in the cabin, and the model is completely autonomous thanks to the built-in artificial intelligence system. If there is a pedestrian in the path of the Mercedes-Benz F 015, the car will immediately stop and, using speakers, prompt the person to continue on their way.
4. Bentley EXP 10 Speed 6
Photo: Falcon® Photography / France
The Bentley EXP 10 Speed 6 concept combines the design charm of yesteryear with the technology of the future. This is a truly luxurious car, which one can only dream of for now. It is equipped with an LCD touch monitor, a hybrid motor, and some interior parts are 3D printed. The new Bentley will hit the market between 2018 and 2020.
3. BMW i3
Photo: Wikipedia Commons.com
The BMW i3 is an electric city car, a cutting-edge hatchback and the first mass-produced car with zero exhaust emissions. The car has only one pedal, which either accelerates or slows down the vehicle using kinetic energy. The electric car accelerates to 100 kilometers per hour in just 4 seconds and is compatible with a smartphone or smartwatch.
2. Lexus LF-SA
Photo: smoothgroover22 / flickr
The Lexus LF-SA is a compact car with a tilt steering wheel, a roll-up instrument panel and a wide-angle hologram display. The car seats 4 passengers, although the rear seats are quite cramped.
1. Lykan Hypersport
Photo: W Motors, Lykan HyperSport
Lykan Hypersport is the third most expensive car in the world. She's worth a whopping $3.4 million! The model has a very unusual design, and according to experts, it even somewhat resembles the Batmobile. The sports car accelerates to 100 kilometers per hour in just 2.8 seconds. Fans of the famous film "Fast and Furious" could see this model in the seventh part of this film. The headquarters of the manufacturing company W Motors is located in Beirut.
It has become known that the new generation Nissan Qashqai may receive an electric version of the car. Automotive engineers regularly introduce new technologies and devices to provide greater safety, comfort, or at least entertainment for drivers. We talk about the developments of the future that are being tested on the roads today.
Cars
with autopilot function
Over the past 5 years, all the world's leading automakers have been developing autonomous cars. Ford concept car that can park itself. Audi, BMW, Nissan, Honda, GM and Mercedes regularly report their self-driving car prototypes logging thousands of miles in testing. Volvo showed its model in Gothenburg, which, thanks to sensors, GPS and other technologies, virtually eliminates getting into an accident. Recently, Toyota announced that it was joining the ranks of developers of “self-driving” cars, and Tesla Motors announced that it would show its first “drone” in three years.
Googlemobile
In action
Google is considered one of the industry leaders. The company's system uses information collected by Google Street View, video cameras, a LIDAR sensor mounted on the roof, radars in the front of the car and a sensor connected to one of the rear wheels.
demonstration of the operation of the lidar sensor,
which is used in google cars system
Most companies say that such cars will become available to car enthusiasts by 2020. What will change with their appearance? Above all, robotic machines will save lives. A computer that replaces a person behind the wheel will be able to simultaneously monitor all objects on the road and instantly respond to emergency situations. But are people ready to completely entrust control to a machine?
Brian Reimer
Transportation expert from MIT
“Humans can accept and deal with people who make mistakes, but we cannot tolerate robot mistakes,” said transportation expert Brian Reimer of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. “How many people would agree to board a plane without a pilot, even if it is known that half the time pilots sit in the cockpit doing nothing, just watching the automation?”
That a computer driver is safer than a human driver must be proven in thousands of instances before lawmakers give complete freedom to self-driving vehicles. At the moment, such cars are allowed to be tested on public roads by the laws of Japan and three US states ( California, Florida and Nevada). It is expected that by the end of the year the UK will also be on this list.
Body panels that store energy
Exxon Mobil predicts that by 2040, half of all new cars that roll off production lines will be hybrids. However, hybrid cars have one problem: the batteries, the energy of which is used to operate the electric motor, are very bulky and heavy, even taking into account the current development of lithium-ion batteries.
In Europe, a group of nine automakers is currently testing body panels that can store energy and charge faster than conventional batteries. They are made from polymer carbon fiber and resin and are strong yet flexible. Thanks to the development, the weight of cars can be reduced by 15%.
Nissan smartwatch
Technologies are constantly evolving and are included in all areas of our lives, from home gadgets to space rockets. We are witnessing how a huge number of ideas turn into something real. Today we look at the automotive industry - one of the most progressive fields - and try to imagine what cars will be like in the next 50 years.
2010: Electric cars
Let's start with our days. Manufacturers and engineers don't just think about speed. They place a high emphasis on efficiency, convenience, controllability, and environmental friendliness. The advent of electric vehicles that charge from a regular electrical outlet has become a logical step towards more environmentally friendly cars.
Until recently, we could only imagine electric cars; the technology for their mass production was not sufficiently developed. However, starting in the 2010s, the situation changed: electric cars ceased to be science fiction and turned into something much more tangible.
Today we live in the era of Elon Musk and his Tesla electric cars, which are now available to any relatively rich person. Tesla was the first in the world to produce electric vehicles with liquid-cooled batteries. This made it possible not only to heat the interior without wasting energy, but also to quickly charge and discharge the batteries without overheating.
Currently, in terms of sales volumes, Tesla's Model S and Model 3 are already surpassed by such famous manufacturers as Jaguar and Porsche. At the same time, in 2017, sales of the Model S increased by 30%, while sales of the BMW seventh series decreased by 13%. The American company is gobbling up European brands in their home market; in the US this process is even faster.
Regulators play a significant role in the mainstream development of electric vehicles. France, Great Britain, Germany and India have already announced that by 2025-2050 they will completely abandon the sale of gasoline and diesel cars. China is toying with a similar idea. And only the United States lags behind the general trend.
The main problem with electric vehicles is their high cost compared to gasoline and diesel counterparts. If gasoline cars are banned worldwide, manufacturers will have no choice but to make electric cars accessible to the masses, regardless of their income level.
Thus, in this decade we have witnessed the birth of a new type of car. Soon they will become an integral part of our lives and will no longer surprise us with their capabilities.
2020: AI and virtuality
Can you imagine an electric car that you don't have to drive? The Volkswagen concern has a whole line of I.D. such electric cars of the future, consisting of four concepts, ranging from a compact model to a small bus. I.D.Vizzion looks the most interesting - according to the developers, it opens up new horizons in environmental friendliness, safety and comfort.
In this case, the driver does not drive the car, but only plots the route in the navigation system. Various functions are controlled using artificial intelligence, voice commands and gestures. Instead of a display, there is a virtual screen that is projected in front of the driver and passenger. It automatically adjusts to the number of people in the cabin, remembering their preferences regarding seat position and climate control.
Volkswagen developers say:
“This is just a concept for now. The model is expected to hit the market by 2022. It is intended for the mass market, while providing a level of comfort that is not inferior to limousines. The price has not yet been determined, but we expect it to become clearer closer to the release of the production model. It should be emphasized that we give priority to safety. The model will not be released until it is absolutely safe.”
2030: Without a pilot in comfort
In 2017, Audi presented the Audi Aicon self-driving car concept. The company plans to launch it into mass production by 2030.
It is a squat sedan with a futuristic design. Inside it looks like a living room. The salon is designed for four people. The car has no steering wheel or pedals; The entire front panel is occupied by the multimedia system screen. Each of the four wheels is driven by a separate electric motor. The estimated range on one charge is 700-800 km.
Here's what Audi spokesman Joseph Schlossmacher had to say about the Aicon in an exclusive interview with ihodl:
“Aicon will be a pioneer in overcoming the most challenging challenges in autonomous driving. At the same time, Aicon technology will later be used in models for the low-cost segment. Thus, everyone will benefit from its implementation. This technology helps minimize the number of accidents because the car can detect potential threats in advance, significantly superior to a human driver. In addition, unlike a person, a car never gets tired. People who do not have a driver's license will be able to drive such cars. However, it remains to be seen what the relevant regulations and rules will look like.”
2040: Car as a service
At this point we will move from specific car models to global market trends.
Researchers from the International Monetary Fund and Georgetown University estimate that by 2040, 90% of cars in the US, Canada, Europe and other developed countries will be electric.
This situation will lead to the emergence of new and unique trends. When cars are completely self-driving, there is no point in buying and maintaining them. Uber, Lyft and other companies already give everyone the opportunity to use a car without having to deal with its purchase and maintenance. This one is called the “passenger economy.” In 20 years, the largest segment is predicted to be user mobility as a service (CmaaS).
Currently, Google is actively developing relevant software, while simultaneously entering into partnership agreements with traditional automakers. Volkswagen plans to create a single platform by combining it with its own vw.OS service: the company notes that such software is easier to maintain and update. Tesla is also working on a similar model.
Another example of this direction is the Udacity project, which provides online education services: it decided to create a course to train specialists in the development of self-driving cars. The course was so successful that the company decided to open a subsidiary, Voyage, which will develop autonomous vehicles. It will focus on producing self-driving taxis. Cars will not be developed from scratch: it is planned to integrate new equipment and software into existing cars.
2050: We will fly
Designer Thomas Larson Rod believes that his idea will be realized relatively soon. He developed a concept called Chase 2053, capable of traveling on land and in the air. As the name suggests, mass production of this futuristic car is expected in 2053.
The body of the Chase 2053 is made of carbon nanotubes, which makes it tough and resistant to any damage. The concept is equipped with an environmentally friendly hydrogen engine. In addition to these unique features, the concept does not have a dashboard, which significantly reduces its weight.
Of course, Chase 2053 is still far from being realized and the least realistic on our list, but remember how far the automotive industry has come over the previous 50 years, moving from simple gasoline cars without Wi-Fi, built-in computers and autopilots to electric cars that have not only everything this, but also much more.
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