Remember the gigaflops war between Apple and PC makers? Apple had that had labeled “Honey, I shrank the supercomputer” and claimed (if I recall correctly) 10 gigaflops. This followed the GHz war, when each computer maker claimed faster computers via a GHz number for the processor.
Nobody bothers with GHz or Gigaflops or any speed advantage because the computers now are so fast they have outstripped any sensible use for the average user. Developers and gamers are now the only people who look at numbers when buying a computer.
In my opinion, Electric Vehicles (EVs) will soon face that switch, and the use of the cars for many users will change, just as the relationship between users and computers changed. Just as computers became too fast to matter (and simultaneously easier to use), they became more communication and news devices, so EVs will become more living spaces than transportation devices.
Recently Toyota announced a 900 mile battery technology. That’s about a month of driving for the average user. Once that tech is implemented, there will need to be a reminder service to charge up the car, since it will happen so infrequently. Add on to that self-driving and available electricity, I think the automobile, as a separate entity from the house, will start to blur.
Imagine the usual use of a suburban user. They have tickets to a concert downtown. They will calculate how late they can leave their comfortable living room (with variables such as the need to stop for gas, traffic, parking, etc.) and schlep to their cold car to arrive in time.
Add to this a car that is no more toxic smelling than the refrigerator, has the energy to drive a bigger vehicle, and has enough electric power and outlets to mimic the living room.
At this point the car isn’t a separate transportation device but a ‘mini living room’ attached to the house via a securable door. The family continues to watch TV, surf the web, etc. in the ‘car room’ as the car dives the family to the concert, drops them off, and finds itself a parking space.
UX UNbound 