There’s no doubt that the electric car has been one of the most hotly debated transport topics in the transportation industry along with private jets over the last several years, with many arguing that it’s the future and others predicting its death in the near future.
For the past decade or so, electric cars have been lauded by industry analysts and fans alike as being the future of auto manufacturing. But despite having made significant strides in recent years, particularly with the release of the Tesla Plaid and Lucid Air, there’s still plenty of work to be done before electric cars go fully mainstream. Here’s what the next ten years may look like for electronic cars.
Increased Sales of Electric Cars
As electric cars become more affordable and accessible, there is expected to be a significant increase in sales of electric cars. Industry experts estimate that by 2030, 39.2 million units of electric cars will be sold annually, up from 8.1 million in 2022.
This increase is due to many factors, including advancements in battery technology which makes them lighter and more efficient while still retaining their driving range; a reduction in manufacturing costs; and increased public demand for environmentally-friendly transportation solutions.
Furthermore, as governments set tougher emissions targets and consumers demand cleaner air, legislation is being implemented to ensure all new vehicles are either zero-emission or hybrid. By 2030, it’s expected nearly every new car purchased will be either an EV or have a plug-in hybrid system available. This makes sense, both from an environmental perspective, as no one could logically be against a cleaner planet, and financially, as fuel prices can fluctuate and will most likely rise in the future (as fossil fuels are a finite resource).
Implementation of Smart Road Designs to Charge Cars
Smart Road Design technologies are still new, but are a promising development that could make the electric car an even more viable option for drivers. Amongst other functionalities such as adjusting traffic lights based on traffic conditions, the system can charge a car as it drives over a special pad under the road, so there is no need to stop and plug in.
While this technology is still relatively new, recent developments have proven successful enough that we may see widespread adoption of smart roads in the coming decade. This will enable drivers to never worry about charging their cars while on the go.
It may also help overcome range anxiety or drivers’ fear that they won’t be able to get to their destination because they are low on charge. This would make sense for long road trips, where drivers would not need to worry about stopping every few hours or so to recharge their cars.
The Elephant in the Room
The one thing that is on everyone’s mind in regards to future driving technologies is AI (Artificial Intelligence), and the self driving car. While the AI is only one component (along with sensors, cameras, and radar) of full automation, it is considered the brains of the operation.
The full arrival of this technology has been predicted for years. From talks of an entire driverless NYC fleet of taxis being powered by Google or Apple to Tesla’s Autopilot features, people have been on edge to see how this will look in practice. The full expression of this technology has proven difficult to solve, and Elon Musk himself stated earlier this year that the feat has proven more difficult than he originally envisioned, but that he hopes it can happen by the end of the year. Once this happens, it will be a complete game changer.
And while the future is ever so promising, there is no time such as the present to make the most of what we have. This could entail nothing more than keeping our current vehicles looking their best. And if some repairs need to made to extend the life of our vehicle, it makes sense to leave it to the best. Finally, upgrades can keep our vehicles feeling fresh going forward.
In partnership with Schmicko and Lisa Brawn