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The Quest for the Car of the Future

Posted by Zonk on from the zippy-go-fast dept.

Lux writes "Where will the car of the future come from? It's unlikely to come from anywhere you'd expect it to. Wired's money is on the car of the future coming from NASA. 'New technology that promises to revolutionize the automobile as we know it is emerging from research institutions and startups — and these innovations won't set you back $100,000 like a Tesla will... One experiment involves small electric motors located in the wheels of the CityCar, a tiny, nimble and practically silent vehicle with wheels that turn 360 degrees, enabling it to slip neatly into tight urban parking spaces. Others are looking to revolutionize the automobile's engine, not replace it.'"

7 of 434 comments (clear)

  1. Heh by Moby+Cock · · Score: 5, Funny

    wheels that turn 360 degrees

    Indeed, that is a revolution.

  2. Google? by GillBates0 · · Score: 5, Informative
    A clean energy update
    Google pushes 100-mpg car
    Google plugs in and goes green

    Frankly, I'm surprised this hasn't made it to a /. article yet.

    --
    An Indian-American Hindu committed to non-violent thought/speech/action alarmed by the global explosion of radical Islam
    1. Re:Google? by AGC(AW) · · Score: 5, Insightful

      I clicked on the link in the google 100 mpg car for the 13 most fuel effecient vehicles. I had to laugh. I bought a chevy 3 cylinder metro 10 years ago. It got me about 44 hiway/38 city new. Has about 100,000 miles on it now and the gas mileage has drppoed somewhat. I'm getting the same or better than mos of these "fuel effecient" cars. My friends laughed at me. I laughed right back when they discovered their monthly gas costs would last me 3-4 months. Don't turn on the AC though.

  3. The real car of the future by the_kanzure · · Score: 5, Interesting

    The real car of the future may in fact be no car at all. Might it be possible that there are methods of living that do not require us to live distantly from useful and necessary services? Looks like we can get services to our computer fairly well, right?

    1. Re:The real car of the future by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

      The real car of the future may in fact be no car at all. Might it be possible that there are methods of living that do not require us to live distantly from useful and necessary services? Looks like we can get services to our computer fairly well, right?


      If you refer to the practice of living in your parents' basement, then yes, I can confirm that it does indeed obviate much of the need for transportation.

  4. Crash tested? by jammo · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Love to see the stills of a simple 20 mile per hour crash, let alone higher. A four wheel drive would literally drive right through it without slowing at a guess.

    1. Re:Crash tested? by drinkypoo · · Score: 5, Interesting

      Love to see the stills of a simple 20 mile per hour crash, let alone higher. A four wheel drive would literally drive right through it without slowing at a guess.

      I don't know about any of the rest of these but the SMART car is supposed to be quite excellent in a crash and not that it's on this list but VW alleges their new ~230 mpg concept is safer than an F1 racer (it's built on some of the same principles and provides an enclosed cockpit, unlike an F1 car.)

      There is nothing inherently uncrashworthy about a small car, although it IS likely to be substantially more expensive for the same level of safety.

      --
      "You're right," Fisheye says. "I should have set it on 'whip' or 'chop.'"