Driving the future forward
Even as we speak, vehicle technology is pushing the boundaries of imagination with many car manufacturers patenting ground-breaking technology from the road up.
Tyres are a notoriously finicky part of the car that needs constant replacing or fixing and have remained largely unchanged since first designed. For those living in snowy climates, they’ll be pleased to know that Hyundai are currently working on retractable tyre studs to make snow chains a thing of the past.
What about tyres that never go flat? Tyre-giant Michelin have already fitted airless tyres to a number of DHL delivery vehicles in Singapore to collect real-world data. These tyres are made of glass fibre-reinforced plastic and can traverse over spikes and rough terrain without the risk of punctures. No more worrying about changing a flat or carrying a spare!
If you’re having trouble deciding which colour to buy, BMW have been experimenting with electrochromic paint. This paint pigment responds to electric voltage, effectively allowing you to change the colour of your car on demand. Similar technology is already in use on Boeing’s Dreamliner, where crew can change passenger windows from transparent to opaque.
Another paint technology which has recently become available, marketed mostly towards those in the high-end luxury car market, is a film coating which self-heals after being impacted by small rocks, debris, or tiny prangs with other vehicles. It’s not indestructible if the underlying metal becomes damaged, but it will help keep your paintwork in tip-top shape for as long as possible.
Car manufacturers have also been thinking about other ways to power our trusty vehicles. For instance, worldwide we produce approximately 350 million metric tons of plastic waste. Most of this plastic will sit in landfill for up to 1000 years. Why not put it to good use? Italian designer Bertone has developed a car which runs on fuel made from old plastic, and is a step towards de-pollution.
The future of EVs could be laying at our feet. In Sweden, electrified roads are already being trialled that allow vehicles to charge as they drive. It may be some time before this method is rolled out commercially, but it shows manufacturers and governments are thinking outside the box to develop innovative solutions.
The year is 2150 and you’re getting out of your car.
What does it look like? How does it drive?
We asked our social media followers what interesting features they’d like to see in cars of the future.
Kristjan is keen to see sleek and streamlined cars in the future.
“Low-profile side viewing cameras to replace side mirrors,” she says. “Keep the body of the car as aerodynamic as possible with as few nooks, crannies or trim as possible so the whole vehicle body can be easier to wash, polish and wax.”
Safety features also ranked highly on the wish list with a few of RAA’s social media followers coming up with solutions to stop people drinking and driving.
Daniel wants a fully self-driving car so he can grab a “cold one from the mini-bar” as he’s driven autonomously and safely to his destination.
On the other hand, Amy would prefer in-built breathalyser to stop drink-driving before it occurs.
Meanwhile, a few in our audience would like to see car technology go full circle.
“[I want] The drone of the supercharged V8. Back to 1970s muscle car technology,” Richard says.
Barnes is a fan of the safety of the 1940s Tucker cars.
“A bigger boot, a step-up to get into the car and a big roomy interior, with the safety of a Tucker car that even in a bad accident, the car can still run,” he writes. “Actually – all cars should have been built like Tucker cars!”
Other readers have been watching a lot of great sci-fi movies. Julie reckons we’ll have solar-powered flying cars in the future, and Tina pictures us in hovercrafts, “just like George Jetson’s car!”