The Future
Internal Combustion:
Everyone pictures the future of the automobile as electric and hydrogen fuel cell vehicles, but we cannot let the internal combustion engine go away so soon. Not only is it still the most reliable and practical mode of powering cars, but it is also the one that all automotive manufacturers have put the most resources into developing. There is still more that can be done to the conventional internal combustion platform to make is more efficient and produce less emissions.
Recently, automotive manufacturers have been developing new ways to cut down on fuel used by the internal combustion engine. The first and most prominent is building engines smaller so their displacement is smaller. For years, larger engines were favored by manufacturers and consumers alike because they produce more power, making a car faster. The loss of engine power due to this cut in displacement is mitigated greatly by new engine parts and mechanics that make a modern engine of small displacement similarly powerful to a large displacement engine from many years ago. Many manufacturers are now using methods such as forced induction via turbochargers to create more power without sacrificing fuel economy. It is likely that the combination of lower displacing engines and turbochargers will become the norm in the automotive industry for the internal combustion engine.
Another method of lowering emissions being employed by automotive manufacturers across the board is using weight-saving materials in production of the vehicle body. While we are still years from all vehicles employing carbon fiber, a very lightweight but expensive material used in expensive sports cars, we have seen most manufacturers moving towards the use of aluminum and magnesium alloys in car production. Using these methods, manufacturers can reduce the weight of their vehicles without sacrificing chassis strength and crash safety. In the coming years, it is likely that most vehicles will have bodies made exclusively of aluminum and many vehicles with chassis made of aluminum.
There is no reason we should give up on the internal combustion engine yet. It is still an extremely reliable and practical solution to powering cars, and with new innovations in the way of engine parts and vehicle materials there is greater efficiency to be seen out of them in the coming years. The focus on internal combustion vehicles should be on phasing out past vehicles that are still on the roads and do not employ any of these emissions-reducing technologies.
Plug-in Hybrid/Hybrid:
The word hybrid was once synonymous with slow and expensive, and when the first hybrid vehicles were introduced, there were many skeptics who didn't believe they would catch on. Over the past few years, countless car companies have poured their resources into integrating hybrid models into their fleets, whether they be standalone models or based off existing models. The benefit of hybrid technology is that it is not too difficult to integrate in an existing platform. At the current rate of hybrid development, it is not unlikely that most vehicles will soon have a hybrid option you can tick when purchasing. We have seen a similar movement in the past when oil prices were high and people were looking for more efficient alternatives. Companies like Volkswagen, Audi, BMW, and Mercedes among others began offering a diesel powertrain on most of their vehicles.
The automotive industry, through innovations in hybrid technologies, has been able to eradicate the idea of slow expensive hybrids. Today, hybrid vehicles are not all that much more expensive that conventional gasoline vehicles. Since there are more options currently on the market, there are more affordable options available. Also, sports car and luxury car manufacturers have used hybrid tech to make cars go faster, proving that hybrid technology isn't just for slow cars. It is likely that the innovations made in these industries will trickle down to common vehicles in the coming years and we will see electric motors used in similar ways as turbochargers are being used today.
Plug-in hybrids are an interesting topic because they cross into the realm of electric vehicles since they can run on all electric power for short periods of time and can be plugged in to charge. Theoretically, if you only go short distances, you can drive a plug in hybrid without using any gasoline. While they are not as popular as conventional hybrids right now, their popularity could increase due to several factors. Many places (excluding California) have a limited number of charging locations where you can take your plug-in vehicle, making them less practical for those who drive long distances. More information regarding charging stations will be discussed in the next section. Another limiting factor for plug-in hybrids is the current price. Like when conventional hybrids were introduced, the technology for plug-in hybrids is typically more expensive than conventional vehicles. As technology improves and more charging stations are established around the world, it is likely plug-in hybrids will become more popular in mass markets.
The automotive industry, through innovations in hybrid technologies, has been able to eradicate the idea of slow expensive hybrids. Today, hybrid vehicles are not all that much more expensive that conventional gasoline vehicles. Since there are more options currently on the market, there are more affordable options available. Also, sports car and luxury car manufacturers have used hybrid tech to make cars go faster, proving that hybrid technology isn't just for slow cars. It is likely that the innovations made in these industries will trickle down to common vehicles in the coming years and we will see electric motors used in similar ways as turbochargers are being used today.
Plug-in hybrids are an interesting topic because they cross into the realm of electric vehicles since they can run on all electric power for short periods of time and can be plugged in to charge. Theoretically, if you only go short distances, you can drive a plug in hybrid without using any gasoline. While they are not as popular as conventional hybrids right now, their popularity could increase due to several factors. Many places (excluding California) have a limited number of charging locations where you can take your plug-in vehicle, making them less practical for those who drive long distances. More information regarding charging stations will be discussed in the next section. Another limiting factor for plug-in hybrids is the current price. Like when conventional hybrids were introduced, the technology for plug-in hybrids is typically more expensive than conventional vehicles. As technology improves and more charging stations are established around the world, it is likely plug-in hybrids will become more popular in mass markets.
Electric:
Electric vehicles have long been cars of the future, something unlikely to catch on, but with the innovations and industry contributions of Tesla, it is becoming a reality. Seeing Tesla's success and feeling encouraged, car companies like Nissan, Chevy, BMW, and Mercedes have released full-electric vehicles to the public. With continued development by all these companies, initial issues like range, charging time and speed capabilities have been fixed and electric vehicles are a more practical option.
As mentioned above, the major limiting factor of electric vehicles are accessible charging stations. The most popular place for electric vehicles in the United States is California, which also has the largest number of charging stations in the country. Electric vehicles become much more practical when they are paired with charging stations wherever you are looking to stop. As future propositions go, electric vehicles are one of the most promising. With technological advancements flowing over the last few years, and the past qualms against EVs have been almost eradicated.
Electric vehicles have long been cars of the future, something unlikely to catch on, but with the innovations and industry contributions of Tesla, it is becoming a reality. Seeing Tesla's success and feeling encouraged, car companies like Nissan, Chevy, BMW, and Mercedes have released full-electric vehicles to the public. With continued development by all these companies, initial issues like range, charging time and speed capabilities have been fixed and electric vehicles are a more practical option.
As mentioned above, the major limiting factor of electric vehicles are accessible charging stations. The most popular place for electric vehicles in the United States is California, which also has the largest number of charging stations in the country. Electric vehicles become much more practical when they are paired with charging stations wherever you are looking to stop. As future propositions go, electric vehicles are one of the most promising. With technological advancements flowing over the last few years, and the past qualms against EVs have been almost eradicated.
