"German carmakers are likely to stop developing new combustion engines in as little as six years as they focus investments in electric cars and self-driving technology, Continental said."
Electric cars: The death of the internal combustion engine
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Re: Electric cars: The death of the internal combustion engine
#12If I had to choose between a world where 1) everyone owned electric cars 2) no one owned cars but just hitched rides on autonomous ones and 3) no one used cars at all, I would take the third option.
I think it's possible if we start building new cities designed for walking, instead of just expanding our current cities, with all the problems that presents. I think the trick would be to strictly limit their footprint to something that would allow anyone to walk from one end to another in ~30 minutes. You can still have a big city, you just have to rely on the world's greatest form of public transportation (the elevator) and build up.
Aside from the serenity of not having cars wiz around, dividing up the city and running people over, there are a bunch of other benefits. Not having to provide services to every residence makes the government's job much easier (so less government); the city would become more of a community if everyone is always walking everywhere and running into each other; you'd have more public green space since the city would be surrounded by a large green loop; and it could fit into some really amazing locations, like a lush valley, or between a lake and a mountain. You can connect a bunch of them with a hyperloop (or something as simple as a bus service).
Re: Electric cars: The death of the internal combustion engine
#13If I had to choose between a world where 1) everyone owned electric cars 2) no one owned cars but just hitched rides on autonomous ones and 3) no one used cars at all, I would take the third option. I think it's possible if we start building new cities designed for walking, instead of just expanding our current cities, with all the problems that presents. I think the trick would be to strictly limit their footprint t…
And for people not interested in living in a city?
I'm genuinely curious on this note. I love utopian visions of cities, but also recognize that even if they existed, more than a few folks wouldn't want to inhabit them.
Re: Electric cars: The death of the internal combustion engine
#14As if ICEs are going to be replaced for emergency power generation any time soon. And with new tech coming out where regular gasoline engines can be as efficient as diesels (in fact using the Diesel cycle to a degree) if not more, you're going to find a resurgence of them in hybrid-electric vehicles. I doubt you're going to be rolling around with a solar-powered weed-eater to do your yardwork. I can guarantee you are…
no, we use battery powered lawn equipment though.
Re: Electric cars: The death of the internal combustion engine
#15If I had to choose between a world where 1) everyone owned electric cars 2) no one owned cars but just hitched rides on autonomous ones and 3) no one used cars at all, I would take the third option. I think it's possible if we start building new cities designed for walking, instead of just expanding our current cities, with all the problems that presents. I think the trick would be to strictly limit their footprint t…
And for people not interested in living in a city? I'm genuinely curious on this note. I love utopian visions of cities, but also recognize that even if they existed, more than a few folks wouldn't want to inhabit them.
They can live somewhere else and drive their ICE cars around. I don't care that much what they do, but I want a live in a city that's livable. I think my vision would make for the most livable city possible.
Re: Electric cars: The death of the internal combustion engine
#16For most of the time, I'd be totally cool with an electric vehicle (this has changed in recent years as ranges and cold-weather performance has improved dramatically). However, that time when I'm traveling off the "grid" would be an absolute nightmare. For example - taking a vacation up in the mountains. No power, limited direct sunlight for solar, and your car is your lifeline. Or cross-country travel that isn't on…
I dont' think it'll be so bad. Sure, you might not be able to do that at first as we won't have the infrastructure and accessories built for it. But we will. Folks enjoy such things. I can imagine being told:
Now, as part of your trailer, you have extra energy storage, perhaps some solar capacity to refill the trailer batteries, possibly using the movement of the vehicle itself too.
Trailer too much? You also have the option of a "luggage case" on top, which isn't as powerful as the above but still lets you have freedom and maybe has a little wind turbine that works as you drive.
And I'm pretty sure we'll have some cars that just automatically come with extra batteries, for exactly the sort of travel you are talking.
Re: Electric cars: The death of the internal combustion engine
#17If I had to choose between a world where 1) everyone owned electric cars 2) no one owned cars but just hitched rides on autonomous ones and 3) no one used cars at all, I would take the third option. I think it's possible if we start building new cities designed for walking, instead of just expanding our current cities, with all the problems that presents. I think the trick would be to strictly limit their footprint t…
A green space that city folk can reach in a 15 minute walk? Welcome to the forest of trash!
Re: Electric cars: The death of the internal combustion engine
#18If I had to choose between a world where 1) everyone owned electric cars 2) no one owned cars but just hitched rides on autonomous ones and 3) no one used cars at all, I would take the third option. I think it's possible if we start building new cities designed for walking, instead of just expanding our current cities, with all the problems that presents. I think the trick would be to strictly limit their footprint t…
> I think the trick would be to strictly limit their footprint to something that would allow anyone to walk from one end to another in ~30 minutes.
How many inhabitants do you think that will be?
Re: Electric cars: The death of the internal combustion engine
#19Earlier quoted context omitted.
I do think it's a fair ways out, but it wouldn't shock me at all to see at least some cities banning empty cars from driving around.
Not banning, but charging higher tolls for empty cars than cars that have a load or person in them. Econ 101!
It may be Econ 101 but a lot of people (aka voters) tend not to like fee schemes that make it blindingly obvious that the wealthy are effectively allowed to use public infrastructure in ways that they are not.
Re: Electric cars: The death of the internal combustion engine
#20Earlier quoted context omitted.
I do think it's a fair ways out, but it wouldn't shock me at all to see at least some cities banning empty cars from driving around.
Not banning, but charging higher tolls for empty cars than cars that have a load or person in them. Econ 101!
I wonder if we could start charging tolls proportional to the spot congestion at any given time.