Self-driving cars appear to be the future of transportation: the autonomous car market in North America alone is expected to garner $52.3 billion by 2030. In anticipation for this future, the latest vehicles are already being equipped with semi-autonomous features that make the road safer for drivers and pedestrians, as well as move us towards a more sustainable world. Today, advanced driver assistance systems are already key features that prospective car owners look for when buying a new vehicle. Here are some of the current vehicle innovations that are shaping the future of transportation.
Adaptive Cruise Control For An Extra Layer Of Safety
Adaptive cruise control uses cameras, radars, and sensors to ensure that your vehicle maintains a safe distance from the car in front of you. It can also automatically adjust the vehicle during stop-and-go traffic. This driver-assistive technology makes the road safer because it can not only control your speed, but it can also help prevent driving errors such as unnecessary acceleration, braking, and swerving. Depending on the manufacturer, adaptive cruise control may also come in with a collision-avoidance system that issues a warning to the driver when a car crash is imminent. It can also automatically brake or steer the vehicle to reduce the impact of a collision. Adaptive cruise control is not only seen in the latest cars and SUVs: even the newer pickup trucks now come with this semi-autonomous feature. Though pickup trucks are commonly used for hauling and other utility purposes, having adaptive cruise control makes it more comfortable and safe to drive on urban roads. In the future, adaptive cruise control may also feature a predictive system that can monitor the behavior of other vehicles so that your vehicle can anticipate their speed and lane changes.
Electric Drivetrains For Zero-Emission Vehicles
Apart from autonomous features, more vehicles in the future are expected to feature electric, zero-emission drivetrains. Battery advancements in the next five years will be able to provide electric vehicles with a range of up to 275 miles on a single charge. Having more charging stations built also means more widespread use of electric and hybrid vehicles. Moreover, autonomous features will be easier to integrate into electric-powered cars, SUVs and pickup trucks. This is because there is better connectivity between the electrical components, compared to traditional fuel-powered vehicles.
Advancements in technology have led to many changes in the automotive industry. With a growing consensus for a more sustainable world, we are seeing a shift towards autonomous and electric vehicles that will make the roads safer, as well as minimize their impact on the environment. Semi-autonomous features such as adaptive cruise control and electronic drivetrains are just a preview of what’s to come. You can expect to see more vehicle innovations in the coming years as we head towards the future of transportation.
