The Progression of the Car: From Gasoline Guzzlers to Flying Taxis

Remember that phrase, "If the car had progressed as fast as the computer, we'd all be in flying cars by now"? Well, guess what? We finally have flying cars and taxis with EVtol hitting the market, and it seems like my Jetson's childhood has finally arrived. The evolution of technology and the innovation that followed is impressive and transformative. If we compare the progression of the computer, including cell phones and tablets, to that of the car, it's not even close. However, the car industry is finally catching up, and it's looking like a thrilling decade and century for human progress. Let's delve deeper into how the car has evolved into what we have today.

There was a time when the car was considered the king of transportation, but in recent years, it faced stiff competition from many other means of transport. Nevertheless, the car industry has continued to thrive in innovation, with the most significant breakthroughs over the last decade being electric vehicles. Tesla has been the vanguard in this space, revolutionizing the automotive industry by doing what traditional car manufacturers needed to be more open to doing: attempting a clean break from gasoline-powered vehicles. Even then, it's worth noting that other top car manufacturers are fast following suit, giving Tesla a run for its money. 

The shift from gasoline-powered vehicles to electric vehicles is revolutionary. Still, the additional advancements in autonomous driving, 5G connectivity, and on-demand car-hailing services are genuinely transformative. Imagine sitting in your car and focusing on other activities while the vehicle drives you to your destination without requiring you to have control of the wheel. All you have to do is initiate the command; the car does the rest by analyzing traffic and making detours to avoid gridlocks and accidents.

Moreover, the shift in car usage from ownership to car-hailing services such as Uber and Lyft is expanding. The new trend's advantages include convenience, reduced traffic, and pollution rates. With giant car manufacturers like General Motors partnering with companies like Lyft, we'll soon see GM's advancements in electric, self-driving cars on ride-hailing apps. This collaboration will create an economy of scale that lowers costs for car manufacturers and car-hailing services, attracting more car buyers. 

Another significant break is in the aerial space with Uber Elevate. Uber Elevate has been undertaking multiple research to create aerial taxis that can transport individuals from point A to B without going through the hassles of traffic jams. Not only is it a faster option, but its ease of access to reach anywhere with a clear landing zone makes it more convenient than other means of transportation. Uber Elevate demonstrated with Bell's Nexus, Daimler, and many different prototypes, which showed these massive strides in innovation.

The car industry has been taking significant strides towards creating sustainable, efficient, affordable transport systems. The advancements in electric vehicles, autonomous driving, a shift in ownership to shared car-hailing services, and the expansion into air transportation can all work cohesively to create a better tomorrow. Our childhood fancies of flying cars are finally coming to fruition, but more importantly, we're on the cusp of a transportation revolution. Regardless, the world needs to cut back on emissions to avoid damaging our planet further. It's inspiring to watch the car industry evolve, creating transport systems that remove us from the notion that the car industry is holding back innovation. Our bright future is looking more realistic.

Pic Credit - EV Software Alef  Alef Flying Cars