What is the future of electric cars

The idea of electric cars that drive and park themselves using sophisticated Internet of Things and Artificial intelligence solutions makes one think we're living in a sci-fi film (let's hope it doesn't get any close to "The Terminator!"). With an estimated number of autonomous cars of over 54 million in 2024, we can agree that AI and IoT have significantly shaped the automobile industry. In this manner, experts project that the market value size of high-tech cars will reach USD 62B by 2026. Also, a recent study shows that, in 2030, one out of ten cars will be fully autonomous. A world with driverless cars isn't as far as you may think.

These cutting-edge inventions involve several intriguing implications, such as environmental impact, cost, technologies, solutions, and safety. Moreover, modern high-tech vehicles rely on rigorous IT solutions to be viable and secure.

What Are High-Tech Vehicles?

Some of you may think that automobiles using expensive cameras and sensors that improve safety and assist drivers is something that just came out. The truth is that advanced Driver Assistant Systems (ADAS) have been around for over three decades. It all started with adaptive cruise control and reverse cameras in the 90s. In the early 2000s, we could see lane departure warnings and blind spot monitoring systems. Artificial intelligence and loT constantly improve car maintenance and safety with remote diagnostics, stolen vehicle tracking, and voice recognition. However, we have been experiencing an otherworldly technological peak over the last decade, which has taken the driving experience to a new level. Back in 2014, Tesla introduced the first AI-powered semi-autonomous car. Some of its unique tools included ultrasonic sensors, radars, traffic-aware cruise control, autosteer, and everyone's favourite, self-parking with Autopark. Equally as impressively, Apple and Google developed Apple CarPlay and Android Auto in the same year. With those apps, drivers were able to integrate their smartphones. They could access features like music, navigation, messaging, and compatible third-party apps.

How do High-Tech Vehicles work?

High-tech cars and vehicles use radars and sensor cameras to accurately detect other cars, pedestrians, objects, traffic signs, and lane markings. Their advanced systems can control acceleration, braking, and steering without human intervention. Most modern AI-powered cars also include voice recognition and gesture control! These use GPS, path planning, OTA, Automotive HMI, Vehicle-to-everything (V2X), and, of course, cyber security solutions.

As mentioned above, this kind of technology involves a lot of heavy work in IoT and AI software development. Some programming frameworks typically used for AI and IoT include TensorFlow, Theano, PyTorch, Caffe, Kafka, Apache MXNet, and Microsoft Cognitiv Toolkit. Regarding Tesla, the programming languages used by their engineers include Java, Python, SQL, Assembly, Ruby, C#, and others. Implementing cutting-edge technologies also allows them to communicate with other vehicles by leveraging the power of IoT.

How High-Tech Cars Impact The Environment?

Gasoline-powered vehicles are responsible for a massive amount of global warming emissions. There's a strong correlation between Internal Combustion Engine (ICE) cars and global warming. Transportation accounts for nearly 30% of US greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. That's unsurprising when you think that one ICE car generates around 4.6 metric tons of CO2 annually. This matter is especially important because the climate clock is ticking.

High-tech EV vehicles are a "greener" option since they produce 64% less gas during their life cycles. This way, they can potentially reduce up to 90% of greenhouse gas emissions in transportation. It's worth noting that the amount of GHG EVs can reduce depends on how clean their electric grid is. An EV can save, on average, the amount of CO2 spent on four return flights from London to Barcelona annually. It's also worth mentioning that EVs produce more CO2 during production than ICE cars.

How Much Do High-Tech Cars Cost?

The good news is that reports show that autonomous cars can help society save around USD 800B a year. How? More efficient transportation, less traffic, massive reductions in car-crash-related costs, and fuel savings. So, does that means high-tech EVs are more secure than ICE cars? Let's talk about that.

This is the truth that an Electric Vehicle (EV) is more expensive than Intermediate Commercial Vehicle (ICV), and the gap is getting smaller and smaller. Some EV models can reach six figures, but there are models under 30k, which prices go below the average price of a new car in the US. Not only is electricity cheaper than gas but also EVs maintenance is less expensive. Yet, EVs are still more costly to repair and insure. As a result, Evs are still more expensive in the long run.

In conclusion

High-tech cars and vehicles involve cutting-edge technologies and tools that use IoT and AI products. Developing these kinds of products requires the usage of advanced programming frameworks implemented meticulously. One of the biggest challenges is guaranteeing users' safety and reducing car crashes. High-tech cars also aim to solve common problems, such as traffic. They're one of the most prominent products in IT, and we can expect them to change the mobility industry for good.