I am passionate about cars. Ever since I was a kid I remember playing with toy cars, then remote control cars, and then actual cars.
I couldn’t wait to get my license and remember how excited I was. It was such a thrill, I soon learned more advanced driving techniques which helped me become a safer driver.
I know most makes and models. I feel each car is an expression of its owner. It’s not just about what car they drive but how they treat their car.
I feel my passion for my cars has expanded into various categories:
- Driving techniques
- Car ownership and maintenance
- The cars themselves
- The technology behind cars and car production
- Cars as an expression of ourselves (car culture)
What’s missing above is car racing/motorsports, although initially I used to watch rallying a lot. It is fun to watch occasionally but it is not my main interest any more.
My interest grows each year as I understand more and more. Now when I drive the car I think about all the effort that goes into making the car, making the road, and all the other hidden things we forget.
From that initial smile of driving a car the first time to now, it is good to be passionate about something.
Where car technology is heading
There is ongoing innovation in the car and energy industry. A trend towards electrification. There are now more and more states/countries outright banning gas vehicle sales in the next few decades.
As we know, energy cannot be created or destroyed, it can only change form. There is disruption at the car level with three forms of propulsion technology: gas, electric, and hydrogen fuel cell.
Then there are new sources of energy, hydrogen and geothermal that are getting more attention at the grid level. Society benefits from more choices and increased infrastructure investment.
Twenty years ago a hybrid car was a novel idea, now here we are with fuel cell and electric battery cars entering the mainstream consciousness.
It is exciting to see and understand the new changes coming. The next time we go to a gas station we might not be filling gas in our cars.