Cars Get Complicated: Do We Actually Need It?

 

Cars of today have gotten so much technology-driven that they have converged to become a Swiss Army knife from being a simple machine of transportation. They now possess so many quirks and features, which makes them essentially a technological tool that is able to serve so many needs. The market is flooded with models that do not offer physical buttons but a touch screen to control even the basic functions, like setting the temperature inside the car. While automatic gear shifting has long been standard for the sector, the gear lever itself has started to disappear completely.

Automobiles used to be much simpler than their current make. The automakers of the '90s and 2000s prioritized longevity and reliability over the technological upper hand. Their build quality surpassed that of today's, as we still see many cars made during that era on the roads. Today’s cars, albeit much more technologically superior, brake often and do not last more than a couple of hundred thousand miles.

Another face of this discussion can be driving safety. True, today’s cars exhibit more safety features than ever. Yet, they provide so many entertainment opportunities throughout the ride, posing a safety hazard to the driver in terms of distraction.

I can attest to the fact that all these new technological innovations make the customers satisfied. However, manufacturers should not forget that the majority of customers only demand safe travel over the years with low cost of maintenance. The rest is optional.

Is Switching to an EV a Good Idea?

 

Electric Cars

Trashing your current gas operated car in favor of a brand new Electric Car (EV) may prove to be an economic decision considering your transportation bill would dip down. However, such a transition could have its downsides, as electric cars pose challenges of their own too.

First of all, EVs run on electricity, which is cheaper than gas most of the time. If you charge your car from your house, the cost savings compared to filling gas tank become more significant.

EVs cost less to make since they consist of fewer parts compared to a traditional car. All it requires to make an EV run is to put together an electric motor and a battery pack. They do not have an engine and a transmission, which are known to be overly complicated parts.

Because EVs do not possess such parts to begin with, they do not require substantial maintenance as the gas powered cars do on regular intervals. This is another cost saving facet of EVs.

On the other hand, the range of EVs is not so promising, as you have to charge your car more so often in order not to be left stranded on the side of the road. This can be a big nuisance especially when there are not enough charging stations in the proximity.

Charging duration can also pose a question mark for potential buyers since it might take an hour to completely charge your car even on those fast chargers. The situation gets more annoying if all the stations are occupied and you have to wait for some time to find a vacant spot.

Owning an EV might sound like a cheaper and a cleaner way of getting from point A to point B. Yet, it is not without its woes.

Toyota's Legacy

Toyota has been known for making reliable cars for decades. Their cars are labeled as having the perfect combination of passenger safety, comfort, and cost-effectiveness. Toyota excels at anything an average consumer may need while claiming low emissions. But how do they achieve these traits anyway?

Toyota’s secret lies in their relentless pursuit of consumer satisfaction. To them, a satisfied consumer can be more important than money since a customer having a bad experience with the brand might discourage others who had eyes on the same brand. That’s why they recall all those cars with defective airbags. Even though it costs them a fortune to undertake such an endavour, it makes the consumers happy to feel valued.

Toyota never makes drastic changes to their cars, making sure that no hiccups happen at the production phase. Something that has not been tested and tried can always go wrong. Hence, it is company policy that innovation is introduced incrementally rather than abruptly. That does not mean Toyota’s doors are closed to technological advancements; rather, the timing of these advancements is of vital importance.

Toyota emphasizes environmental sustainability. They acted a lot earlier than its competitors by introducing hybrid cars to the industry. Converting some of the car’s kinetic energy to electricity and thereby using that electricity to move the car was revolutionary. Others followed Toyota on hybrid cars, helping consumers enjoy a driving experience that is cleaner and cheaper.

Toyota continues the legacy by offering people a safe and comfortable ride from point A to point B while still working on ways to enhance the consumer experience further. Setting the standards higher while stiffening the competition, Toyota’s production mentality lifts the automobile industry as a whole.

Innovation and Private Sector

Private firms spearhead the production growth in any country. After all, the capitalist system itself pushes the private sector to engage in economic activities, as the capital needed for these activities is held by private individuals. It has been proven that the government acting as an entrepreneur in the market often yields outcomes that do not benefit society as a whole.

The private sector’s stance on market opportunities involves rational choices based on the profitability of any economic endeavor. Private entities prioritize their money, the capital, before dulging in any activity since it is their hard-earned and accumulated capital that is at stake. On the other hand, governments spend the tax money, which belongs to citizens. When government officials decide to compete in any market, they do not always behave like private firms do, as the capital that they are putting forward is not theirs. They are not betting their own money, which could lead them to make bolder decisions. The private sector is the key to efficient economic decisions.

Not only that, but the private sector comes up with innovation, which brings about economic growth. To increase productivity, thus profit, firms need to innovate. Take, for example, Henry Ford’s assembly line. He needed to manufacture cars at a faster rate, so he devised a new production method in which pre-produced parts were attached to the body at a specific location on a continuously moving line.

The fact that the private sector’s efficient production, combined with the government’s monitoring and safeguarding, propels a nation’s economy to new heights is undeniable.

To Turbo or Not

 

Car engines have gotten more complicated as the years have passed. Since the public demands both fuel economy and power from cars, car manufacturers have been trying hard to match these demands by introducing newer and more complex parts. To gain more horsepower and fuel economy at the same time, they started to combine small-displacement engines with turbos.

The traditional way for an engine to breathe used to be through natural aspiration. They use the atmosphere around them to feed the engine's air intake. The turbo, on the other hand, uses exhaust gases to pump pressurized air into the intake manifold of an engine, producing more power.

Naturally-aspirated engines might get affected by the changes in atmospheric pressure around the car. These engines might get choked at higher altitudes, as at these altitudes the air gets thinner, which negates some of the car’s performance. Turbo, on the other hand, makes up for the lost oxygen by forcing extra air into the engine.

Small displacements Engines with turbos attached may seem like a brilliant idea on paper. Yet, these engines are put under extreme temperatures while operating with a turbo. They need to work extra hard to haul the same chassis that is driven by their bigger counterparts. These would mean additional wear and tear, making them not last as long as expected.

Although turbo came as a ground-braking technology, it has its downsides. Some question its reliability, while others claim that it is too costly a solution. If there is one thing certain about turbos, it is that they revolutionized engine technology.