Technology is advancing at an incredible speed. When we think of futuristic cars, we often think of the flying cars that zoomed around in episodes ofThe Jetsons. But what does the future of cars look like now as we stand in 2023 and look ahead 25 years?
Here’s what cars will look like in the not too distant future of 2050.
What is the next technology for cars?
Automotive technology is largely centered around vehicles becoming more electric,more connected, and more autonomous. New cars will need to focus on becoming less dependent on fossil fuels as new rules and regulations are quickly imposing emissions bans. The cars of the future will allow us to drive, or simply ride as passengers, in comfort and in style.
What will cars look like in 2050?
Cars will be autonomous.
By 2050, cars will almost certainly be self driving and powered by AI. Experts in the field of embedded technology predict that autonomous driving will create $300 to $400 billion in revenue in the next ten years. While this technology still makes many people nervous, studies have found that over 94% ofcar accidents that occur globally every year are caused by human error. While the numbers are still out on how many accidents would be caused by automated vehicles, there may be some significant safety advantages to autonomous driving.
Avatars will drive us and we will immerse ourselves in whatever we choose.
Many tech experts envision AI generated holograms that will serve as drivers for us. These avatars will look like people and be able to interact with us as if they are human. While they chauffeur us around, passengers will be free to do whatever they like. If you prefer a quiet time to catch up on work, the technology will be there to support you. Manufacturers are already showcasing 30 inch display screens with 8K resolution. If gaming is more your style, engaging in VR during your commute will be hassle free. Headsets will be a thing of the past as holograms project your game all around you, allowing you to immerse yourself entirely in entertainment. If relaxation is what you are after, your car can easily transform your car into an immersive oasis.
The cars may be flying.
While it’s probably unlikely that most cars will be airborne by 2050, the technology will almost certainly be there. Morgan Stanley has predicted that the flying vehicle industry could be worth $1.5 by 2040. As of now there are no flying cars in production, but there have been several prototypes and in 2021 the first consumer flying car showroom opened its doors in Los Altos, California. In July 2023 a California startup by the name of Alef Automotive received certification from the Federal Aviation Administration to test a fully electric vehicle that both fly and drive on standard roads.
Everything will be connected.
Today's cars are connected to nearly everything, but the cars of the future will be connected to absolutely everything. A key component of autonomous driving is that these vehicles are constantly fed information. Cars will be connected not only to weather services and service stations but also to road signs, other vehicles, and buildings. While the technology for these connections exists, the infrastructure does not exist yet. By 2050 our world may be more equipped for this type of connectivity.
Our cars will be whatever color we choose, whenever we choose.
In 2022 BMW showcased a new color changing paint that will allow you to change the color of your car, and possibly create a pattern, by simply pressing a button. While the colors are currently limited to black, white, and gray, this will most likely expand and allow people to personalize their car based on not only their personality, but their mood on any given day as well. The paint uses millions of microcapsules that when negatively charged become white and when positively charged become black. The durability of this paint is also unknown at this point, but the concept and technology are incredibly exciting to the future of car exteriors.
Our cars may display advertising on the outside while allowing occupants to look outside.
Nextgen Nano has recently made a breakthrough in transparent OLED technology which will allow screens to work like two way mirrors. Passersby may only see an advertisem*nt for something when they look at your window, while you will see everything outside. This shape shifting glass may be used for glass buildings, buses, trains–anything really. Shape shifting glass also means that information can be displayed in front of you while you are driving, giving you vital information while not requiring you to take your eyes off the road.
Will all cars be electric in 2050?
By the time 2050 rolls around, most experts predict that gas powered cars will be receding into the past. While the exact number ofelectric cars on the road varies depending on who you talk to, it is generally agreed that as electric vehicles become more affordable and the infrastructure for it becomes more substantial, electric vehicles will take over. In August 2022 California enacted ACC II (Advanced Clean Cars), a vehicle sales standard that will require all cars sold will have zero emissions by 2035. This law is seen as a roadmap to zero emissions that other states are encouraged to enact so that we can all live in a cleaner world. Seventeen other states–New York, Massachusetts, Vermont, Maine, Pennsylvania, Connecticut, Rhode Island, Washington, Oregon, New Jersey, Maryland, Delaware, Colorado, Minnesota, Nevada, Virginia, and New Mexico–have enacted legislation to help cut emissions, but only five of these states have embraced the strict requirements that California has in place. If the remaining states enact stricter laws in the next few years, many believe that 75% of cars in 2050 will be electric.
But while the switch to electric cars is being supercharged, it is not without its problems. There are significant disadvantages that may slow down the transition from gas to electric. The following issues will need to be addressed before an electric switch will make sense.
- Electric vehicles require about 6x more critical materials than conventional cars.
- The recycling industry is not efficient enough.
- There is low compatibility with wind and solar.
- New technology will require more energy to fuel it.
- The infrastructure for charging stations needs a massive upgrade.
- Current electric vehicles are expensive.
While the cars of the future will be electric, there are significant challenges to overcome. But with technology advancing at this pace, it’s not hard to imagine a future of all electric, autonomous, AI powered cars.
That’s what cars will look like in 2050.
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