Upgrade-Ready Vehicles could solve the Problem of Lock-in

Whenever I consider buying a new piece of consumer technology I am always concerned about how futureproof the item is. We’ve all envisaged worst case scenarios where we just set foot outside the store after buying our brand new phone or laptop only for a new version to be released the next day that surpasses our purchase. We don’t want to be locked into out of date technology and so the savvy among us usually research the market before buying to ensure what we buy will have some lasting power.

This paints a very black and white picture and it discounts a fundamental aspect of the consumer technology being released today. In an attempt to encourage consumer uptake of their products, manufacturers are now regularly building in upgrade potential into their latest devises. This upgrade potential may be hardware based such as where an additional stick of RAM is added to a personal computer or software based where a smart-phone is upgraded to the latest operating system. The same principle holds true for the latest personal vehicles in both the software and the hardware dimension.

 

Baby Steps or Great Leap Forward?

It seems more and more likely that Electric Vehicles are to be the future of personal automotive transport. They offer distinct advantages over Hydrogen, biofuel, CNG and LPG vehicles. The question now on everyone’s lips is how quick will the transition be? Our previous article discussed the inherent limitations in attempting to predict future markets but I want to expand on a point that wasn’t well laid out and that is the issue of consumer acceptance.

People in general are quite adverse to sudden and dramatic change in their consumption patterns. Introducing a concept, idea or product that is radically different from the conventional norm runs the risk of being greeted with hesitation and perhaps resistance. Moving from conventional internal combustion engine vehicles straight to electric vehicles will be a substantial change and require drivers to reconsider in many ways how they drive a car. This scenario is loaded with pitfalls and therefore it is unlikely there will be a mass shift from ICE to EV in consumer preferences. Indeed, it most likely would be undesirable all-round for this to be the case as EVs will undoubtedly have some teething problems that will need to be addressed.

Batteries Not Included?

If there is one universal truth that holds constant throughout the universe it is that the future will not be the same as the past. Change will happen and, as the previous post discusses, the ability to predict change is a highly desirable commodity. The market for personal vehicles currently stands at a crossroads with multiple pathways leading forward. The current overriding market model is one of personal ownership of a passenger vehicle that is bought from an automotive manufacturer and refuelled by petroleum firms. There is potential that this model will continue into the future but a number of rivals have emerged and are vying for position.