Technology is something that affects our every day, from the moment you wake up to the second you fall asleep. Embracing the change and using it to our advantage is the way forwards and driving is included in this. In the past 50 years our roads, cars and methods of driving have changed drastically.
What are the most some of the biggest, recent changes that affect most cars?
Parking sensors
Reverse and parallel parking has, for a long time, struck fear into the hearts of even the most seasoned drivers, however the installation of parking sensors on cars has helped to make it considerably easier to park in smaller and smaller spaces.
At the moment there are two types of sensors on the market, ultrasonic and electromagnetic. And although they both serve the same purpose, they do it in different ways.
Ultrasonic sensors will work while stationary or moving and use sound waves to detect how far away objects are. While they are a cracking invention, there are a couple of snags, they won’t detect surfaces that are too low like a curb and will only pick up objects that are directly in front of them.
Electromagnetic sensors, on the other hand, can detect objects surrounding the entire vehicle. They use frequencies to create an electromagnetic field and therefore can detect anything that enters it. However this does mean that they don’t work as well when the vehicle is stationary, unless the object is moving – like a pedestrian or another car.
Electric cars
Electric cars are becoming more and more mainstream. With many different companies coming out with their own range to choose from, like Vauxhall dealers, this is helping to reduce the costs and give people more options to look into.
Along with being better for the environment, electric cars are also cheaper to maintain compared to make petrol and diesel cars. The costs of running one are significantly cheaper throughout the cars lifetime, especially when you take into account the tax incentives and special government grants you can make use of. Moreover, charging stations, such as the Tesla Powerwall, are no longer prohibitively expensive as they were once.
Quality of driving experience
The entertainment features in cars have also changed rapidly, with the use of Bluetooth and phone connectivity. You can do so much more while you’re driving your car, from calling someone to have a catch up, to listening to your favourite podcast, this is in part due to how much easier a car is to drive now.
You can also get cars now that have DVD players and TVs in the headrest to keep your kids entertained for long drives. Long gone are the days of “I Spy”
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