AFP: with their advanced driver assistance systems and heads-up displays, which beam information in front of the windscreen – might seem positively futuristic. But according to Michael Todd, global head of innovation at Henkel Adhesive Technologies, the car industry is on the cusp of even bigger changes Here are some of the features your future set of wheels might include:
Larger infotainment systems
Driverless vehicles are likely to include infotainment systems that are bigger and curvier than anything seen to date, allowing us to work or watch something while we’re driven to our destination. In fact, Todd claims that by 2025 there won’t be switches or dials in new cars. “They’ll have completely digital, very elegant 3D interfaces.”
Better acoustic dampening
It may not get as much press attention as autonomous driving, but acoustic dampening will be an integral feature of the car of the future. “You’re going to start hearing things you never heard before while driving,” says Todd.
Cooler batteries
“The main bottleneck for electric vehicles (EVs) is batteries,” says Fallah. In simple terms, these batteries need to have greater energy capacity and – particularly when the car is being charged – produce less heat.
Lighter construction materials
In the 1960s, almost every part of a vehicle was bolted, welded or fastened together with clips. Today, most of these parts are bonded with adhesives. And in future, says Todd, “there will be almost nothing mechanically fastened, because it adds weight”, which adds to the drain on an EV’s battery.
Increased computing power
Today’s high-end cars contain between 10 and 20 mini computers, which help to run the engine, entertainment system, sensors and more. The car of the future, however, will
contain upwards of a hundred.
“The computing power is going to be enormous,” says Todd, “much more than you find today in a normal house, or even in a normal office.”