Prospects of Automotive Technologies toward the First Quarter of the 21st Century

摘要

Because automotive technologies progress very rapidly, it is very difficult to predict future aspects even in a quarter century time span. Questionnaire surveys were conducted with members of various JSAE committees for estimating the years of research and development completion, commercial availability and popularization of various automotive technologies that are deemed requisite and essential for our future society. Ultra-low fuel-consumption vehicles such as a 2-liter car will be widely used by 2015 using hybrid systems. Fuel cell vehicles will follow as main players in the market. Electronic information technologies will never stop their progress, repeating swift generation changes for further evolution even after 2015.