The prevailing belief is that a system of self-driving cars will solve several environmental and social problems without us needing to worry about messy stuff like politics, activism or changing our travel habits.
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There aren’t many non-car companies that we would trust making a car. But if we have to choose one, it would be Sony. The company has been making game consoles/controllers and games for yonks with its PlayStation brand. So, they should know a thing or two about control/movement and design, right?
With a collective gasp and puzzled looks, the world was recently introduced to Tesla’s newest vehicle. The so-called Cybertruck is an angular, stainless steel, all-electric pickup truck that quickly became polarizing.
Videos showing autonomous or self-driving vehicles weaving in and out of crossroads at speed without colliding suggest this technology will solve traffic problems. You almost never see pedestrians or cyclists in these videos. The reality is that they don’t fit.
Yeah, we’ve got Uber and Bolt, but Africa has been slow in adopting electric scooters (or simply e-scooters). Well, the micromobility operator, Lime, will launch e-scooters in the city of Cape Town early next year.
It might have lines taken from a 2000-era video game (probably this one — which is still amazing, just by the way) but that’s just going to make a certain type of person want it even more. But look under the skin of Elon Musk’s new Cybertruck and you’ll find plenty (more) to like about it.
Step aside, Tron and Akira bikes, because Blackstone Tek (BST), a South African carbon fibre wheel manufacturer has developed the most sci-fi electric motorbike ever.
Electric cars are often seen as one of the great hopes for tackling climate change. With new models arriving in showrooms, major carmakers retooling for an electric future, and a small but growing number of consumers eager to convert from gas guzzlers, EVs appear to offer a way for us to decarbonise with little change to our way of life.
If there is one thing to complain about living in South Africa — it’s the total lack of affordable EVs. Here’s hoping the new Volkswagen ID 3 comes here.
Research on driverless cars is well underway, but less is heard about the work being done to make cars a smart companion for drivers. In the future, the cars still driven by humans are likely to become as sensitive and attentive to their driver’s needs as another person. Sound far-fetched? It’s closer than you might think.