New Technologies

New Technologies

Expanded use of computer technology, development of stronger and lighter materials, and research on pollution control will produce better, "smarter" automobiles. In the 1980s the notion that a car would "talk" to its driver was science fiction; by the 1990s it had become reality.

Onboard navigation was one of the new automotive technologies in the 1990s. By using the satellite-aided global positioning system (GPS), a computer in the automobile can pinpoint the vehicle’s location within a few feet. The onboard navigation system uses an electronic compass, digitized maps, and a display screen showing where the vehicle is relative to the destination the driver wants to reach. After being told the destination, the computer locates it and directs the driver to it, offering alternative routes if needed.

Some cars now come equipped with GPS locator beacons, enabling a GPS system operator to locate the vehicle, map its location and, if necessary, direct repair or emergency workers to the scene.

Cars equipped with computers and cellular telephones can link to the Internet to obtain constantly updated traffic reports, weather information, route directions, and other data. Future built-in computer systems may be used to automatically obtain business information over the Internet and manage personal affairs while the vehicle’s owner is driving.

During the 1980s and 1990s, manufacturers trimmed 450 kg (1000 lb) from the weight of the typical car by making cars smaller. Less weight, coupled with more efficient engines, doubled the gas mileage obtained by the average new car between 1974 and 1995. Further reductions in vehicle size are not practical, so the emphasis has shifted to using lighter materials, such as plastics, aluminum alloys, and carbon composites in the engine and the rest of the vehicle.

Looking ahead, engineers are devising ways to reduce driver errors and poor driving habits. Systems already exist in some locales to prevent intoxicated drivers from starting their vehicles. The technology may be expanded to new vehicles. Anticollision systems with sensors and warning signals are being developed. In some, the car’s brakes automatically slow the vehicle if it is following another vehicle too closely. New infrared sensors or radar systems may warn drivers when another vehicle is in their "blind spot."

Catalytic converters work only when they are warm, so most of the pollution they emit occurs in the first few minutes of operation. Engineers are working on ways to keep the converters warm for longer periods between drives, or heat the converters more rapidly.

Diesel engines use cheaper fuel, burn it more efficiently, and produce fewer pollutants—but they are noisy. Popular in trucks and heavy vehicles, diesels are only a small portion of the automobile market. A redesigned, quieter diesel engine Volkswagen introduced in 1996 may pave the way for more diesels, and less pollution, in passenger cars.

Dodge Intrepid ESX concept vehicle

The Dodge Intrepid ESX, introduced in 1996 by the Chrysler Corporation, is powered by both a diesel engine and electric motors. Equipped with lead-acid batteries, electric power steering, and an aluminum body, it is about 272 kg (600 lb) lighter than a comparable conventional automobile. In addition, the Intrepid ESX gets about twice the gas mileage as its conventional counterpart.