In-car technology is a trend that’s gaining traction as state governments look at ways to develop smart infrastructure in the coming years. Vehicle technology and in-gadgetry play an important role in the way that new cars are marketed.
Here are new technologies that are expected to be the central focus of automotive companies in the next decades.
Autonomous Vehicles to Enhance Safety
Self-driving vehicles aim to make roads safer and to reduce motor accidents due to driver fatigue or negligence. These cars are fitted with advanced recognition technologies to identify and avoid obstacles along the road. There are several technologies that are being developed to enable autonomous vehicles to function. Pedestrian behavior prediction, advanced-driver assistance systems (ADAS), sensor technologies lidar and radar, and artificial intelligence, to name some make it possible to deploy driverless vehicles on the road.
Driverless cars can be made with internal combustion engines or hybrids, although it is expected in the future that electric vehicles become mainstream. In the case of conventional engines, technologies are also constantly updated to improve their performance. For example, the ubiquitous spark plugs are vital in producing electricity that ignites combustion needed to start a car. Without them, a vehicle will not start. Thus, it is important that they are well-maintained to keep the car moving, improve fuel economy, and produce less harmful emissions. Hence, spark plugs made from high-quality materials such as iridium or platinum last longer. Furthermore, they prevent engine misfires and rough idling.
Big Data for Informed Decisions
Data generated from vehicles are useful in many things including information to enhance driver safety and experience. Collected data can be used in predictive maintenance, fleet information and management, and creation of alerts in cases of accidents. In addition, big data offers solutions for automotive finance and provides digital solutions to various industries including improvement of marketing or operations.
Connected cars also offer valuable insights to make better decisions, craft strategic moves, and prevent fraudulent activities. They can convey data about driver or vehicle behavior. To illustrate, self-driving cars can communicate their positions allowing them to safely drive side by side, merge, or avoid collisions.
Electric Vehicles
Alarming levels of greenhouse emissions as well as the depletion of fossil fuel reserves are behind the promotion of electric vehicles (EVs). However, to increase adoption rates, electric cars should address several issues such high prices, poor battery, and inadequate charging infrastructure.
Today, new technologies are constantly being tested to improve the performance of EVs. For example, although lithium-ion batteries are the industry standards, it should be emphasized that new tech exists to improve the performance of EVs. To illustrate, graphene-based technologies are being tested to improve charging times. Renewable charging grids are also discussed to sustain green initiatives.
Vehicle technology is a critical component in the development of the auto industry. From driverless cars that reduce accidents and improve user experience to big data and electrification of vehicles, updated tech can make it easier for the industry to move forward and enhance the well-being of drivers, pedestrians, and businesses.
