As automotive technology progresses, our cars these days can do much more than drive and park. Capable of making and receiving phone calls, our cars are gradually becoming large smart devices that are able to deliver enhanced and safe vehicles with amazing capabilities. The automotive industry is still as robust as ever and technology is constantly enhancing the way in which we use our cars and improving our lives as our vehicles become much more efficient and enjoyable. As technology continues to evolve, we’re likely to see the automotive industry change quite a lot over the coming years.
Here are some of the latest technologies that you can look forward to in the automotive industry:
1. Self-driving technology
Although we’re still a little way off from adopting driver-assisted technology, the idea of self-driving vehicles has dominated the press recently and a number of cars have already implemented semi-autonomous capabilities. Self-driving technology is a major development for the automotive industry and one that experts believe will be a huge benefit to the industry for a number of reasons. For example, it is thought that it will reduce the number of accidents on the road caused by human error to a great extent, as well as being beneficial for the elderly and the physically handicapped who struggle to drive regular cars.
2. More fuel-efficient
With the introduction of electric and hybrid vehicles, we are slowly beginning to see an improvement in terms of fuel efficiency. It is thought that burning petrol or diesel in a normal engine can be inefficient when compared to coal-powered electric cars, which are likely to be better users of fossil fuels. Producing much lower emissions, where the use of electric cars increases, will allow for air quality to be improved and for the fuel-efficiency movement to progress.
3. Cars that communicate with each other
How amazing would it be if our cars could communicate with the traffic lights, as well as other cars on the road? Cars that are able to communicate with each other, also known as vehicle-to-vehicle communication, could mean dramatic changes in the way in which our cars are able to avoid collisions and communicate with objects around them. Currently being tested by manufacturers such as Ford, this latest technology works by using wireless signals to send information back and fourth between cars sharing various information in relation to their location, speed and direction. This type of technology could be the key to enhancing our automotive safety and it’s looking very likely that this will eventually become a reality one day in the future.
4. Energy storing body panels
It’s predicted that by 2040, half of all new cars that come off the production line will be hybrids. Although hybrids allow us to save on emissions, due to hybrids having a large battery, which is heavy and takes up a lot of space, energy-storing body panels are a great idea and do appear to be a better option. Polymer fiber and carbon resin body panels are currently being tested to see whether they are strong enough to be used in cars as these could potentially help to reduce a car’s weight. Body panels could be the key to making our cars more energy-efficient and lightweight and could be a new and exciting piece of technology that is set to be installed in the future.