Will the Automotive era come to an end in the 21st century? Looking at today’s environmental and economic challenges of the use of cars based on last century technology and listening to some trend watchers one could think so. Cars can be regarded, as an old-school status product indeed, for which there is no use, no place, no money and no interest in our modern society.
On the other hand, auto-mobility is still growing, both in developed as in developing countries. The current worldwide road travel by motorbikes, cars, trucks, and buses will probably double to 80 trillion kilometers in 2050.
Facing comparable mobility growth in the Dutch Port City areas of Rotterdam, a paper by researchers from the Research Sustainable Port Cities, Rotterdam University of Applied Sciences and the Delft University of Technology describe the developments in automotive.
Electrification, Automation, and Connectivity
In their vision, the traditional automotive values ‘individual freedom and flexibility’ and using new disruptive technologies, the automobile will very likely consolidate its position as the preferred choice for mobility of persons and goods during the 21st century. To achieve that the sustainable disruptions: Electrification, Automation, and Connectivity (sharing) must be adopted.
Six Zero’s
Meanwhile one should focus on tempting goals, the Six Zero’s; Zero Emission, Zero Energy, Zero Congestion, Zero Accident, Zero Empty and Zero Cost. These goals will guide us towards a new economy, sustainable ecology and more efficient use of time.
Rieck, F., & Machielse, C. (2017, October). Automotive the Future of Mobility. EVS30 Symposium.