It is obvious now that the car of the future would be powered by everything but gasoline. With peak oil production already a thing of the past, alternative energy cars of the future will soon become a normal part of life. Future cars will be powered by sources such as electricity, biofuel, hydrogen, synthetic fuels, and even nuclear power. Here we take a look at some of the best futuristic cars that will save the planet:
Electric Cars
There are already battery-electric cars such as the plug-in hybrid Chevy Volt rolling out to the market. The Chevy Volt is joined by the Nissan Leaf and hydrogen cars, such as the Mercedes B-Class F-Cell and Honda Clarity, which are already leased by customers.
Bio-Fuel Cars
Flex-fuel cars, which are powered by biofuel, are in showrooms already and are now being sold on the market. Honda is selling a compressed natural gas car called the Civic GX. While this type of fuel is very clean burning, it will give way to zero-emission vehicles in the not-too-distant future.
Nuclear-powered cars are so far still only on the drawing board but they too will arrive in time. Ford has already produced a concept vehicle that will be powered by a small nuclear power plant in the car’s engine.
Smart Cars
At present, smart vehicle technology has already taken off. In the future, new technology will let cars detect oncoming traffic and employ evasive maneuvers, as well as park themselves; if they can find a parking spot, that is! Other vehicles being tested can communicate with traffic signals and other vehicles.
There are buses being tested in Northern California that drive without a driver by following magnets implanted in the road. The buses automatically move along the routes given.
Earth Friendly Cars
There will be many one-person vehicles coming on the market in the future. Vehicles such as the Moville, the Revolute, Tuvie Scarab, the BugE Personal Electric Transport, and the Honda 3R-C will soon be using the highways.
Not only will the car of the future have zero emissions, but also the manufacturing process is designed to be as Earth-friendly as possible.
Bio-fabric Cars
Honda is right now building vehicles using biofabrics. Biofiber bodies will replace fiber bodies and provide extra protection because they are stronger than steel as well as being flexible enough to evenly distribute energy during car crashes.
Future cars will be aerodynamic as well as have a zero carbon footprint.
Flying Cars
Not only will future cars have zero carbon emission and are smart, but some of them will also fly as well, according to some prototypes now being touted. Some of these flying cars include the PAL-V, the Switchblade, Moller Skycar, X-Hawk, and the LaBiche FSC-1.
The Terrafugia Transition is already taking orders online for its flying car. Car manufacturers are now in a position where they will have to start thinking about manufacturing zero-emission cars or be left behind the competition and that is a very good thing for the planet.
