The global automotive sector has experienced huge growth over the past couple of months, and this drive is being pushed forward by green means. The latest evidence of this comes from the UK, where in mid July, the Johnson-led government reported that they had pledged $93m of public funds to help boost green car investment and manufacturing in the island state. With similar schemes being set up across the developed and developing world, this will mean a huge shift in what consumers will have available to them and where they start to find value in the future – both in terms of car purchases and wider industry consumerism.
The green car revolution
These changes will be felt most keenly in the open car market. While consumers do much to decide what will be available on the car market at any given time – supply and demand being crucial – there’s also the push of governmental regulations and wider market forces. As a result, markets are starting to grow more and more towards the scaling of electric vehicles (EV). In one of the biggest car markets of all, the USA, this has seen EV uptake double over the past year, according to a report by industry consultants McKinsey. What does this mean in terms of the typical consumer? Car guides will begin to focus on new vehicles, given the level of subsidies and benefits that purchasers of new EVs typically receive. Forecourts and other car retail outlets will increasingly move towards pushing EVs, and the first-hand market may soon overwhelm that, trading in combustion engine vehicles. While this process may be slow at first, there is an inexorable move towards EVs that will see the market shift.
Sourcing new energy
With this shift towards low-emission vehicles will come further movement towards clean energy sources. As many critics of electric vehicles have pointed out, if the electricity is generated from fossil fuels, it cannot be considered completely clean. Furthermore, with question marks hanging over the lifetime emissions of wind turbines, solar panels and the ilk, there’s a serious discussion to be had over the carbon neutrality of source materials.
Good news is on the horizon here, too: the findings of a 2017 study reported by Carbon Brief, which found that current and future renewable tech has the potential for vanishingly low lifetime carbon emissions, are being implemented worldwide. Cars charged during the day in Texas will benefit from almost 100% wind power, and in sunnier states, such as California, huge photo-voltaic harvesting and storage facilities are providing the juice that cars need. The solutions needed are forthcoming, and this will lead to an expansion in charging points – improving car range.
Peripherals as the norm
Artificial intelligence (AI) and augmented reality (AR) are already making a positive impact inside cars, but new technology promises to take this even further. According to BuiltIn, a technology mag, AI will help cars to benefit their consumers in two main ways. Firstly, through fuel efficiency – whether electric or gas powered, the engine can be carefully manipulated to save fuel, and the GPS of the car can also be used to plan the most efficient routes and guidelines as to when the engine needs to come off. Secondly, these systems are very powerful in terms of safety features and will improve the average safety on roads across the globe.
With these factors in hand, the green energy push for vehicles will not only change the market, but it will improve it, too. Safer, faster and more efficient routes, paired with better vehicles will all be delivered in hand with the objective of providing new vehicles, making driving better for everyone.
