When we turn sixteen and get our first driver's license the cars we drive may be very different than cars today. There will be many changes to make cars safer to drive and better for the environment. The impact of the automobile is world-wide. The car industry is global, so all countries that use the automobile must communicate their transportation needs to car manufacturers.

The large number of automobiles in the world today causes problems in the environment. The gasoline engine causes pollutants to be released into the atmosphere. These pollutants damage our environment and are unhealthy. Automatic transmissions, air conditioning, four wheel drives, and bigger and heavier vehicles use more gas. Many states have raised the speed limit. Faster speeds means more gas is used.

People who build cars want to make them better. Gas prices are on the rise and cars need to be more fuel efficient. This means that cars need to go farther and use less gasoline. People also want to make cars that do not cause so much damage to the environment. This is why some cars have been built that use sunlight, electricity, or other fuels.

One car that has been built to help the environment is the hybrid. The hybrid is a car that uses both gasoline and electricity. The new hybrid cars use both gasoline and electricity for power, so they save on gas. The engine uses smaller, lighter parts. It has a fuel tank to supply gasoline to the motor and a set of batteries that supply electricity to the motor.

More hybrid cars are being made. They will become even more fuel efficient and will cost less in the future. This will help to save on fuel and damage to the environment. Experimental cars are being built that use other fuel sources. Some other fuel sources that may be more common in the future are natural gas and alcohol based substances.

Other Trends for the Future

Many cars already use GPS systems that help a driver out with directions and allow a monitor to tell where the car is located. In the future cars may be guided by a computer and the driver will not even have to drive the car. The computer would make decisions quickly for the driver. A Smart Cruise System is being tested in Japan that will give warning for dangerous roads and conditions. Computers are built into the roads and a computer will let a driver know about dangerous objects or situations. Other cars of the future may know if a driver is getting sleepy while driving and wake him up with a warning signal!

The new technologies mean that automobile companies must keep up with new ideas while keeping the cars affordable. This also means that companies in different countries must work together. Internationalization is already occuring and will become more common in the future.

The future of the car is looking good! Automobile companies in different countries will have to work together if they want to survive. There are many new ideas for making cars better for us! Are you ready for some more fun? Take the quiz, complete the word search, or have fun with the interactive story. Be sure to read the Fun Firsts found in the side bar! The activities are Next>>

Citations

Cars of the Future. Retrieved March 13, 2006 from http://www.smh.com.au/news/Technology/Car-of-the-future/2005/04/17/1113676643649.html?oneclick=true

Encyclopedia.com. The Automobile. Retrieved February 2, 2006 from http://www.encyclopedia.com/html/section/automob_AutomobilesandtheEnvironment.asp

The Demise of Import Sales Statistics. Retrieved March 15 from http://www.jama.org/AutoTrends/detail.cfm?id=166 .

The Future Car. Retrieved March 13 from http://www.a-car.com/future.html.

How a Global Positioning System Works (GPS)

A computer receives a signal from satellites and calculates the position. This is GPS. The computer has a map and GPS will tell the place on the map where you are. Some GPS systems can speak to you and guide you trough the streets of a city.