I have a bonkers prediction for the executive car of the future. Forget catching a plane or a fast train – they are going to be relics of the past. Executive cars are the transport of the future! That is my prediction. Self-driving, electric cars travelling at high speeds across Europe with no need to refuel. Imagine that. Chester to Paris, door-to-door in just two-hours. Just enough time to watch a film or update your emails.
Pioneering The Automation
It probably sounds off the scale but I can reason it out. It is a reality which may be closer than we might think too. Although the car is currently under attack for producing emissions and pollution, it is changing. That change probably started in the 1990’s. Just as the microchip was being introduced in production cars. A new feature known as adaptive cruise control was being pioneered for the Mercedes S Class.
Little did automotive manufacturers know, they were developing what is now defined as level 1 autonomous car technology. It is where a vehicle controls or aids an element in the driving process. At present, autonomous car driving is defined by six levels. We are not quite there yet but Renault have demonstrated level 4. Waymo are even trialing (in a designated area) the highest level 5, where a vehicle takes full control.
Overcoming Emissions
Automation is just one element of what will make the executive car of the future. Cameras, sensors and technology can do so much but the vehicle still has to overcome the issue of emissions. Battery technology continues to improve in electric cars but charging is still a hindrance. Unless you consider a radical concept – inductive charging. Or wireless charging as it is better known. Engineers argue it is prohibitive with current technology but I see change coming.
Years ago, I read about economic cycles and the work of Nikolai Kondratieff. He proposed capitalist societies go through (short and long) economic waves. The longer cycles in history feature the industrial revolution; the discovery of electricity; the introduction of oil; and the development of the microchip. Personally I think the (motor) car fits a long wave cycle, which is yet to witness complete fruition.
Nuclear Fusion Technology
Essentially, the next wave of innovation is in the way electricity is generated. Just imagine if it were produced and sold for a fraction of its current price. Well, I predict it will become so cheap and so abundant the world will change (radically) in the process. For years, French scientists have been pioneering nuclear fusion technology. It will create a revolution in power. It still has some way to go but its inception will be profound.
Cars, trucks and other vehicles which run on fossil fuel will become antiquated vestiges of a bygone era. Just like the canals and steam trains of a previous-age. New vehicles and executive cars in particular will be a fraction of the cost to run. No engines and fewer moving parts will mean less servicing. Without gasoline or diesel, fueling stations will be history. As mapping technology improves, point-to-point navigation speeds will shorten. Imagine it, no bottle-necks, traffic lights or roundabouts. This is not the most exciting part of the future though!
Speeding Across Continents
Exotic cars today are already capable of phenomenal speeds. As that aerodynamic technology filters down, 300mph cars will become the norm. So just imagine, high-speed, electric, self-driving executive cars, powered through induction charging, travelling across continents in hours. All this while the occupants enjoy the pampered luxury of an exquisite interior and the immersive fun of virtual-reality entertainment.
Does all this mean DrivenByQ will be redundant? Well, no. The chances are, the executive car of the future will remain relatively expensive. Rather than owning cars, people will hire them (on demand). Various cars will exist too: such as pods (or taxis) for local journeys while the executive car will remain more exclusive. Hiring one is where DrivenByQ will play a role. After all, no matter what the future brings, a reputation relies on history.