“We could be on the brink of another revolution.”
Dr Stefano Longo, senior lecturer in vehicle control and optimisation at Cranfield University, is visibly excited about the future of the automotive industry.
“It’s definitely the right place to be at the moment. It’s exciting from a research point of view and there are so many things happening.”
The automotive industry is certainly enjoying a golden age. UK car production hit a 17-year high in 2017, with the number of cars manufactured rising by 7.3%.
Arguably more exciting are the technological advancements being made - hybrid and electric vehicles, autonomous vehicles, and even Airbus’ pod/car/drone concept, which envisions a completely seamless travel experience.
And then there’s Tesla – the US car manufacturer that’s disrupting the industry and breaking all the moulds.
So far, so thrilling – but these changes don’t come without challenges. Capitalising on them requires new skills in the workforce and there are vast barriers to overcome on the way to making revolution a reality.
Future car technologies
Writing for Business Insider, Drake Baer says: “Tesla Motors probably shouldn’t exist.”
“Tesla didn’t have a legacy,” says Stefano. “They weren’t linked to any previous design or supply chain that limited their imagination. So, they started from scratch and they designed a great car; an electric car.”
“And the big car manufacturers are worried. They don’t want to miss the boat!”
In 2014, Tesla introduced Autopilot, paving the way for fully autonomous vehicles. But, despite the company’s success, there has been tragedy along the way. In 2016, a man in the US died while driving his Tesla Model S in Autopilot mode, after the car collided with a tractor trailer.
In response, Tesla advised that Autopilot is still in a “public beta phase”, describing the technology as “an assist feature that requires you to keep your hands on the steering wheel at all times", and said that "you need to maintain control and responsibility for your vehicle” while using it.
In fact, developing the cars of the future comes with a whole range of problems.
“These new technologies create a bit of a catch-22”, says Stefano. “Take electric cars, for example – you can’t have more electric vehicles on the road without more charging stations; but companies don’t want to invest in chargers when there isn’t a demand for electric vehicles.
“Then there’s the issue of charge time. What if there’s an emergency and your car battery is flat? Or what if everyone charges their car at the same time and there’s a power surge? These are complex problems.”
The UK Government recognises this – in the November 2017 Budget, Chancellor Philip Hammond pledged £540 million to support the growth of electric cars.
Skills for tomorrow’s automotive industry
Finding solutions requires bright minds and new skills. Most notably, there is a demand for knowledge of computer science: the ability to program, to run simulations, to work with complex software systems.
“Here at Cranfield, we offer an MSc in Automotive Mechatronics,” says Stefano. “It’s important that people have a wider awareness of the industry, rather than just the technologies. So, our teaching is rooted in the real world and we enjoy strategic links with the automotive industry and key players in the forefront of automotive research and development.”
Then there’s the looming issue of Brexit, the consequences of which are yet to be seen. “Will it be harder to attract the best talent?” asks Stefano. “Who knows?”
Overall, however, the mood is upbeat. And it’s clear that the automotive industry is changing in a fundamental way.
“Transport as a whole is changing,” says Stefano. “It’s becoming a service. The sentence, ‘I’m going to drive my car to work today’ is going to be redundant. You won’t drive. Car ownership will be different. You won’t ‘go’ to work.
“The future may not be the way we envision it today,” says Stefano. “But change is certain.”
And with the prediction that fully autonomous cars will be on UK roads by 2021, the future doesn’t seem all that far away.
