|
|
So have you ever wanted to look into the future of automobiles? If you are thinking about a car like the Jetson's, it's a long way off, so for now your out of luck. But if you want to see what the future to see what the future of automakers has for automobiles then you only have to look to GM for most of the inspiration.
General Motors has drastically changed the way that drivers will sit in their automobiles, drive in them, as well as control the rest of their automobile. The GM Hy-wire is what General Motors has introduced. Originally called the AUTOnomy, the GM Hy-wire is a future concept automobile that many drivers could be purchasing in less than 20 years.
If you're looking for an engine block and transmission under the hood of the GM Hy-wire and you're looking for a traditional automobile then you can forget all about it.
The GM Hy-wire has no room for the engine block under the hood of this car, most of the controls and computerized technology that drives the Hy-wire lies underneath the car in what is called the skateboard. The skateboard is an 11-inch thick box that contains all of the car's main functionality tools.
The skateboard could probably be comparable to a motherboard inside the computer. But this is essentially what the GM Hy-wire is: a high-tech computer that has the ability to control the wheels, speed up, slow down, and maneuver the car with the help from the driver.
So what powers the Hy-wire if not an engine block and transmission? This is where the future of cars should be and the Hy-wire's power comes from the Hydrogen fuel cell that is included with the vehicle. Standing for hydrogen, the "Hy" was meant to denote the power source of the vehicle. But the hydrogen fuel cells are combined in a stack for the Hy-wire to put out 94 kilowatts of power continuously. Of course, the car can go even faster for a shorter period of time.
But for the future of automobiles the Hy-wire does not look too bad. There will be tweaks to the car's design along the way, as has already happened, but GM has come a long way in producing a great concept car that many people in the auto industry are getting excited about!
Safety is also an issue with GM and they have made crash boxes so that the front and the rear of the Hy-wire will be completely crash absorbent. Other than the features listed, though, there are also several other things that make the Hy-wire completely unique!
The seats of the car can be placed practically anywhere in the automobile and the car can even convert to a van or any other type of vehicle so that more passengers are able to fit snugly in the car. Because of this versatility in design the Hy-wire will be a big hit with whoever decides to purchase it.
All in all, though, General Motors has introduced an awesome-looking car that will more than likely take production in the not-so-near-future. With many consumers begging for more fuel-efficient cars and expert automobile professionals calling for more efficient cars, the Hy-wire will probably be the first of its kind on the market!