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So many possibilities in the future - fuel cells, hydrogen, improving the ICE with little to no research and development, all electric, part electric plug in, etc. The Board of Directors at auto companies must go to sleep wondering what products to gamble on.
I picked up a 2012 Lexus CTH200hybrid 3 years ago. Low mileage and lots of extras. 40+ mpg, hatchback with room for my bike and golf clubs. It has been discontinued but I just use it for getting around our beach town. I paid 17K for it and have been told by local used car dealers that I could get 20K plus for it. Their lots are sparse. I plan on holding on to it.
....3. I expect autonomous cars to become popular, but not for at least 10 to 15 years. In spite of the advances that have been made there still is a long way to go.
They still have quite a way to go and problems to figure out. Just yesterday my SUV (without the ability to drive itself) loss quite a few of its functions due to a coating of snow on the front radar sensor and the front camera.
They still have quite a way to go and problems to figure out. Just yesterday my SUV (without the ability to drive itself) loss quite a few of its functions due to a coating of snow on the front radar sensor and the front camera.
My Subaru has it's safety sensing equipment shut off by a bit of rain mist, snow will do it too. From what I've seen of Tesla's experience is that their sensors can't tell the difference between the horizon sky and a white tractor trailer, so my faith in autonomous driving does not exist yet and I'd rather not have those vehicles driving around me.
As far as fuel cells go I'd really like to see other alternatives besides electric, so we have a mix of various forms. As far as air travel is concerned I can't see electric power being possible for transatlantic flights, so something like hydrogen or alternative clean fuels is needed, unless they can fly on french-fry grease ?
I think one of the big problems with autonomous cars is that there is going to be a need for universal software/networking so that the autonomous cars can talk to each other. Until a universal standard is established and accepted by the automakers I doubt that autonomous cars will be safe enough.
I think there might be a similar problem with electric vehicles. I think there must be a universal standard for the charging facilities so that any electric car can use any charging site. I think this is quite possible to achieve. Computer manufacturers, including Apple and Microsoft have just accepted a universal USB port. If computer manufacturers can do it I can't see why auto manufacturers can't.
Charging stations are rapidly becoming more numerous even in smaller communities. I noticed several in traveling across Texas to New Mexico.
Here are 8 charging slots at a Phillips 66 fueling station in Childress, TX - not a large town - and there are fewer than 8 fueling positions for gasoline. Maybe things are actually changing across the country. I think the proposed infrastructure bill has funding for thousands of charging stations, but there may not be enough emphasis on a more powerful electricity grid to provide the increasing juice requirements…
I think one of the big problems with autonomous cars is that there is going to be a need for universal software/networking so that the autonomous cars can talk to each other. Until a universal standard is established and accepted by the automakers I doubt that autonomous cars will be safe enough.
I think there might be a similar problem with electric vehicles. I think there must be a universal standard for the charging facilities so that any electric car can use any charging site. I think this is quite possible to achieve. Computer manufacturers, including Apple and Microsoft have just accepted a universal USB port. If computer manufacturers can do it I can't see why auto manufacturers can't.
If they rely on road markings only I think we are in big trouble as our road markings are terrible, hopefully the have other data and information to use for autonomous driving. Even GPS and mapping can be off quite a bit. I'm sure they will figure out in due time.
Charging stations are rapidly becoming more numerous even in smaller communities. I noticed several in traveling across Texas to New Mexico. Here are 8 charging slots at a Phillips 66 fueling station in Childress, TX - not a large town - and there are fewer than 8 fueling positions for gasoline.
Don't you think Elon Musk now living in TX, where he wants to build his own town, might have a lot to do with that?
