The future of electric cars: six technologies you hope to experience someday
The number of electric cars continues to increase every year, with the Netherlands leading the way in Europe. Range and charging times have already improved significantly in a relatively short time, but what else can we expect in the future? Will there be more incentives for drivers to switch to an electric car?
There are also pioneers in other fields, such as the iGaming industry. It is common there to sweeten the offer for newcomers with free bets, a bonus or gifts to attract more customers. Is it conceivable that electric car salespeople could find more interested customers with offers such as free charging?
The future of driving is electric, but the greater the demand, the greater the willingness to research and optimize. Here six technologies that may one day become standard.
Bi-directional charging optimizes power consumption
Despite the great potential and benefits already visible, bi-directional charging is not yet established. Bi-directional charging is a technology that works in both directions. In addition to being able to charge the electric car’s battery through the grid, the battery can also feed power back to the grid. This makes it possible to optimize the use of renewable energy.
Since most cars are parked more than 80% of the time, this way would be very interesting as intermediate storage for solar energy. During fluctuations in the home’s energy supply, the car can act as an energy source. Then, by the way, both the car and the charge point must be capable of bi-directional charging. There are already a handful of models that can be used for this purpose, including from Mitsubishi.
Improved battery performance for more efficient driving
In recent years, the performance of electric motors and batteries has already improved significantly. Lithium-ion batteries already cost 85% less, making electric cars more affordable. For many drivers, though, it remains to be seen whether an electric car will meet their needs.
High performance models could overtake the performance of gasoline cars in the future. Further development of battery technology is indispensable for this. This will lower the purchase price. At the same time, electric cars are becoming increasingly attractive as their range approaches that of the conventional car. The battery of the future has high energy density, low power losses and high charge rates.
Gas stations on every corner: charging across the country
The infrastructure for charging electric cars has greatly improved in the Netherlands. The number of charging stations is growing and mass use of electric cars is already a reality. But it is not yet as smooth as with gasoline cars, for which there are many filling stations throughout the country.
Many more public charging stations will need to be added. They should be available everywhere. If the share of new registrations of electric cars rises to 50%, it would amount to 150 million new cars in Europe.
The permanent expansion of the number of charging stations, at home and in public spaces, will ensure that a charging station is always available for every electric car. In terms of sustainability, it is especially important that the electricity used comes from renewable energy sources.
Improved driving assistance in the car of the future
Whether for reverse parking, maneuvering or highway driving, driving assistants are already a major topic today. In the future, however, they could play an even more important role, focusing mainly on autonomous driving.
Research and further development in cameras and sensors will ensure that driving safety on the road improves. Among other things, it is conceivable that future cars could communicate with each other and warn each other of dangers.
If the car is alerted to dangerous situations on the route, such as or black ice or chance of aquaplaning due to heavy rain, road safety improves. In the future, the windshield could take over the role of the screen, including overlays and warnings in dangerous situations.
Some car manufacturers are already working on further developments and already supply cars that use up to eight cameras and 12 ultrasonic sensors to monitor the car’s surroundings and react to dangerous situations.
Intelligent car: self-learning functions for maximum comfort
Artificial intelligence is also a hot topic. Technology could play an important role in the future to increase user comfort in the car. Self-learning car functions are already available in models from Mercedes-Benz, for example. There, biometric scans can be used to set desired settings, such as car temperature, seat settings and music.
Self-learning software in the car allows frequently driven routes to be remembered. The car can then independently provide the correct information for this route. Based on the mood of the driver while driving this route, music or audio files are offered.
Interior configuration is prepared by fingerprinting. In the future, it is conceivable that a car could store multiple profiles. The driver then only has to scan his fingerprint and the interior is prepared according to his personal preferences.
The autonomous car: no more human interaction needed
Confident experts assume that self-driving cars will be commonplace by 2030. Those cars then take over all relevant tasks while the occupants talk to each other, read a book or play a video game. Automatic biometric recognition should allow drivers to be recognized and boarded.
The vehicle could coordinate with other cars and pull information about traffic jams directly from the Internet. To make this possible, Europe’s Internet infrastructure, in particular, must be significantly improved. If the connection is interrupted while driving, the car may literally fail.
Programming such a car takes an enormous amount of time. There should be a possible solution for every conceivable traffic situation. Even a technical error can have serious consequences. Whether this will actually be the case by 2030 is still unclear. What is certain is that autonomous driving will be part of the future.