Eco-Friendly Automotive Technology: Where Is It Going?

Consumers everywhere are increasingly becoming environmentally conscious, and along with this development, the demand for more eco-friendly modes of transport is ever-growing. Late last year, the city of Makati announced that it struck a deal with various private sector groups, allowing for the widespread use of electric tricycles or “e-trikes” and four-stroke engine tricycles in order to improve air quality in the city. In Baguio, solar-powered green buses have begun plying the city streets since May. More recently, the Duterte administration unveiled its plans to revive the Panay Railway System, which aims to make use of the eco-friendly Hybrid Electric Train developed by Department of Science and Technology’s Metals Industry Research and Development Center.

All these measures are complemented by the growing number of hybrid cars now available in the Philippine automotive market. Indeed, it is an exciting time for those who love the environment, as the interest and push for more sustainable transportation methods and environmentally friendly cars continue to gain traction. If you would like to know where green auto technology is headed, here are some of the biggest automotive tech innovations that were unveiled at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) held in Las Vegas from January 6 to 9, 2016:

Chevy Bolt

Electric vehicles have been around for almost two decades, and the culmination of which is the luxurious electric sedan, the Tesla Model S, which can get to almost 300 miles before it needs any recharging. Unfortunately for the average Juan de la Cruz, such cars are simply out of reach budget-wise.

Enter the Chevrolet Bolt, which has been touted as “the first electric car for the masses.” While the Tesla Model S costs $70,000 to $109,500 brand new, the Bolt is just a hair under $30,000. Tesla CEO Elon Musk said before that 200-mile single-charge power capacity is the “minimum threshold” for electric cars to be accepted by the public, and the Chevy Bolt is able to do just that. Mass production of the eco car is set to start in 2017, and chances are high that the electric car will be made available locally.

Faraday Future FFZERO1 Supercar

Most people can’t believe it, but it’s finally here, the eco-friendly sports car of the future. The Faraday Future FFZERO1 boasts a 1,000 hp engine, a top speed of over 200 mph, and a 0-60 mph time of less than three seconds. True, more than a handful of speedsters can reach and even exceed such numbers, but the twist is that the FFZERO1 manages it all with a quad core electric powertrain. In the running for the fastest green car in the world, the FFZERO1’s debut at CES includes the California-based carmaker’s desire to attract investors to the new $1 billion production facility it plans to build in North Las Vegas, Nevada.

Volkswagen BUDD-e

The Volkswagen brand took a huge hit when it was discovered that the German carmaker cheated emissions tests in the U.S. Now, Volkswagen aims to rebound from this unfortunate setback with their announcement of an all-electric version of their beloved Microbus. Rumor has it that the new Microbus will have a driving range of 300 miles and come packed with modern technological wonders guaranteed to excite new and old Microbus fans alike. Though VW hasn’t released much information about the new Microbus, reliable sources say that it could start selling in the market around 2017.

Ehang 184

Ehang, a drone manufacturer based in China, claims to have built the world’s first autonomous one-passenger helicopter that can travel a maximum of 10 miles and fly to 11,000 feet high. According to the drone manufacturer, the 184 is capable of autonomously taking off, flying along a given route, avoiding obstacles, and then safely landing at the given destination. All a passenger has to do is input the desired destination and sit back as the 184 flies him there.

What makes the Ehang 184 a viable eco-friendly transport option is that, like the rest of the examples in this article, it is all-electric. A prototype was presented at CES, and a video was used to demonstrate what the helicopter is capable of. The Ehang 184 has its fair share of skeptics, but despite that, the people behind it remain optimistic that their quadcopter will revolutionize the transportation landscape.

Do you have something to say about these eco-friendly transportation offerings? What do you think are the chances that we will see them on Philippine roads soon (or in the Ehang 184’s case, the Philippine skies)? Sound off on the comments section below.