With technology evolving daily, it’s not uncommon for us to get significant updates on our favorite accessories and gadgets at home. However, these are not the only significant developments as cars rapidly evolve. For example, cars today are more connected than ever, so much so that it is predicted that by 2025, 70% of cars sold will be digitally connected.
It’s not just cars’ digital technology that is evolving; their designs are also being innovated to enhance their performance or make passengers safer. Here are some top vehicle design innovations reshaping the car industry today.
Lighter Vehicles
With gas prices rapidly rising, fuel economy is slowly becoming a critical consideration for vehicle design. One way to ensure cars save on fuel is to make them lighter. Studies show that even a 10% reduction in vehicle weight can lead to a 6% to 8% fuel economy improvement.
As such, manufacturers are replacing cast iron and other traditional steel components with lightweight materials, such as high-strength steel and titanium sheet metal. These lighter materials help save fuel and allow cars to carry advanced emission control systems and safety systems, which are particularly important for hybrid and electric vehicles.
Eco-Friendly Components
It is no secret that plastics significantly contribute to global pollution. According to the World Economic Forum, 400 million tons of plastic waste is produced yearly, yet only a fragment is recycled. The vehicle industry is stepping up to help resolve this issue, as car manufacturers such as Ford and BMW are shifting to recycled materials for their car components.
While this is not yet the norm regarding vehicle design, it is ultimately the goal. For now, some manufacturers also make their suppliers more accountable by making them justify the cost or quality of brand-new materials compared to recycled parts used honda in fresno.
Safety Technology
Accidents do not only happen while you are in transit. Sometimes, no matter how careful you try to be when checking your car, your kids or your pets can slip through and hide inside.
This can be dangerous, given that every year, about 40 children and hundreds of pets die from heat exhaustion when left inside vehicles. More car manufacturers, such as Hyundai and Kia, have included sensitive interior motion sensors that detect if someone is left inside the car and send a notification to the owner’s phone.
We spend a lot of our time in transit, so it only makes sense that our cars evolve to accommodate our ever-changing needs. These innovations in design will not only help us save money, but they are also important indicators that the vehicle industry knows its role in the environment and our safety.