The automobile market is changing in some unexpected ways. Ever since the concept of the automated car hit the streets, companies the world over have been thinking up ways to join in the race. While old hats like Volkswagen fall victim to their own poor planning and product placement, newcomers to the auto industry like Apple and Google are offering a piece of the future we’ve all wanted since the days of Golden Age science fiction.

While many are reluctant to let go of their gas-guzzlers, the wave of the future is inevitably going to be electric vehicles and battery power. Whether protecting the environment with their lack of emissions or severing our reliance on fossil fuels, the benefits of electric cars outweigh any potential detriments.

Robert TaurosaAlong with the advent of clean-running cars, inventors have begun developing hands-free vehicles. The concept, similarly helpful as removing fossil fuels, has many more benefits than its classic counterpart. While some cars will have an option to make them able to be manually operated, a simple button press will perform all the necessary functions of a car. Reducing incidents of traffic fatalities, and subsequently dropping the cost of repairing damaged roads and the man-hours needed to attend to the grim aftermath will allow us as a race to more appropriately allocate our time and energy.

The design of modern electric cars not only remove the need for expensive and environmentally impactful fuels but will offer more direct and consistent power. Where a fuel-based engine’s output is directly related to the force exerted on the pedal, the controlled and evenly distributed power of an electric engine can deliver real power over sustained use. While the fantasy of flying cars remains elusive to this day, we may soon live in an era where we can all face each other while we zip down the road. A time where snow, rain, and inclement weather are little more than hindrances for your onboard computer to map and avoid.