Media post: Fast Facts about Cars & Transportation in 2023

The auto industry has undergone massive changes in the past ten years. In addition to the introduction of self-driving vehicles, companies are busy designing and selling high MPG compacts, electric vehicles (EVs), plug in hybrids (PHEVs), charging stations, and high-end SUVs. However, consumers have genuine concerns about the latest developments, particularly the long-term safety of self-driving models.

Commercial buyers are finding ways to leverage the energy efficiency of EV automobiles to boost profits, while some consumers choose to buy PHEVs to get the best of high mileage combustion engines and electronic motors. As the government and several automakers continue to encourage a switch from gasoline to electricity as the main power source in cars and trucks, buyers still prefer to purchase high mileage gasoline powered vehicles. Consumers continue to worry about taking long trips in battery powered forms of transportation, primarily because they don’t know where to plug in on a cross-country drive.

One of the major transportation stories of the early part of the decade has been the surging popularity of e-bikes and urban light-rail transportation. Individuals are reluctant to pay high pump prices, an attitude that has supported the growth of EV sales and the willingness to take other modes of travel. Consider the following facts to gain a better understanding of how the modern automobile industry is changing to meet consumer demands.

People Worry About Self-Driving Snafus

When you go to buy a new vehicle you probably do so under the assumption that you will be the one driving it. But self-driving cars operate on a computer app that, in most cases, allows for human intervention. Tesla Motors was one of the first major manufacturers to offer the option on its all-electric models, S, E, and X. Others followed, but the technology has run into trouble as it has been connected to multiple major accidents, including fatal ones. In several US states, legislators are working to restrict the use of such apps, and there’s a strong consensus behind a push to regulate the use of self-driving technology until it becomes more sophisticated.

Transport Fleets Can Cut Expenses With EVs

Commercial transport fleets of all sizes can maximize profits by keeping fuel bills low, especially as gasoline and diesel fuel prices soar to all-time highs. While some wonder are electric cars better for the environment? Fleet managers are seeking out EVs as a much cleaner alternative to combustion engines. Not only are electric trucks and cars an essential step in the move to fully sustainable transportation, but they are also a smart way for fleet supervisors to achieve an elevated level of fuel efficiency and minimize operating costs throughout a company’s entire fleet.

Fortunately, the switch is not an all or nothing proposition for fleet managers. Many companies in the niche choose to purchase a few EVs to learn how to work the vehicles into the larger scheme of things. It takes time to discover the best ways to incorporate electric cars, small trucks, and vans into everyday operations. When it makes financial sense, businesses can install charging stations on-site and never worry about battery power. For the most part, on-site charging makes it much easier for city-based organizations to service and charge their EVs from a single location.

Plug In Hybrid Electrics (PHEVs) Offer the Best of Both Worlds

When GM introduced the PHEV Chevy Volt in 2011, the move had a major impact on the worldwide auto industry. For the first time, a top corporation placed its financial trust in the success of a plug in hybrid, a car that gave users the choice of using electric or gas power with the flip of a switch. Unlike the immensely popular Toyota Prius hybrid, which uses an electric motor to assist the gasoline engine, the Volt puts the decision-making power into the hands of the driver.

Sales surged for several years, and multiple GM competitors copied the idea. Eventually, for a complex set of reasons, GM decided to cease Volt production in 2022, but the die was cast. Now several top automakers, including Toyota, offer plug in hybrids that combine the benefits of gasoline and alternative power.

High Mileage Gas Powered Compacts Are Favorites

Amid a flurry of advertising by EV and hybrid sellers, traditional gas-powered compacts continue to rule the road and dominate showroom sales for dealerships across the nation. High MPG (miles per gallon) small cars and light trucks are an entrenched product class in the US marketplace. While all electric choices like the Tesla models and Nissan Leaf post admirable sales numbers, standard Kia, Toyota, Ford, Chevy, and other non-electric models crush the competition in sheer volume sold. However, as more manufacturers embrace hybrids, the sales of electric and electric assist cars and trucks will likely continue to rise throughout the 2020s.