Top 10 Futuristic Vehicles (And Innovators) That Aren’t in the Future
September 5, 2014
If you ask us, the future seems like a pretty exciting place to be — there’s sure to be jetpacks, flying cars, and Jetsons-style civilian space travel. But what if these futuristic reveries were instead happening, well….now?
Our list of 2014’s transportation innovators is populated with companies and individuals who are making these sci-fi fantasies reality. From innovators like Elon Musk, pioneering electric cars while simultaneously looking to the heavens, to self-driving vehicles with minds of their own, these 10 industry leaders are poised to change everything about how we get around. Now — where’s our hoverboard?
1. Google: Not even a few years ago, the concept of a self-driving car would have sounded ludicrous – if not slightly terrifying. But leave it to Google and its team leader Chris Urmson to come up with a self-driving model that isn't just remarkably efficient, but also
pretty cute. Plus, not only will the vehicles make driving hands-free, they'll even help us
save on gas. So sit back, relax, and admit your human fallibility.
Photo courtesy of Google
2. Honda: Ranked amongst the
greenest car companies this year, Honda has been working hard to make their everyday models as eco-friendly as possible, with a focus on fuel efficiency, hybrids, and other environmentally conscious choices. On the side, they've also pioneered concept cars like the FCEV, a fuel cell-powered vehicle that has a 300-mile range (and wouldn't look out of place in "Tron").
Photo courtesy of Honda
3. Ford: Gone are the days of the puttering Model-T (though that was plenty innovative in its day). These days, Ford is known as a leader of all things green. For evidence, look not just to pioneers like the hybrid Ford Focus, but also to new concept models like the
C-Max Solar Energi, which is powered not just by electricity but also by solar panels. You might not want to park this one in the garage.
Photo courtesy of Ford
5. SpaceX: Speaking of Mr. Musk, we should also mention that he isn't
only the CEO of Tesla. No, that would be underachieving. The 43-year-old also heads up
SpaceX, a company with plans to
reportedly dominate personal space travel across the solar system by 2100. Well, it's always good to have realistic goals.
Photo courtesy of SpaceX
6. Martin Jetpack: You know all those jokes you make about being disappointed in the future because you don't have a jetpack? It's time to quit whining. New Zealand-based
Martin Jetpack has arrived. Recently redesigned, the company's product is expected to start selling commercially this year. As of now, you can expect to hit top speeds of 46 mph when strapped in. The future really
is now.
Photo courtesy of Martin Jetpack
7. Terrafugia: What's the next logical step after jetpacks? Why, flying cars, of course. Leave it to Woburn, MA-based company
Terrafugia, whose Transition model looks like a personal rocket and is currently street – and sky – legal. Up next is the concept TF-X, a plug-in hybrid electric flying car. How long until we can start zipping around in one of those?
Photo courtesy of Terrafugia
8. Elio Motors: It's a car! It's a motorcycle! No, it's the
Elio, a slick little vehicle that's accessible like a bike, but safe as a car. Made for city streets and affordable for most budgets, it's poised to debut soon. Better hurry, though – let's just say
it's already looking popular.
Photo courtesy of Elio Motors
9. BMW: So you live to be behind the wheel of something sporty. But do you feel good about your carbon footprint afterwards? If you're driving a Beemer, you could very well: The company's new, all-electric i3 EV has been
rated by the EPA as one of the best-performing cars for 2014. Fast
and green.
Photo courtesy of BMW
10. BYD: With a billion plus people (and more and more car owners among them), China is poised for transportation innovation. One of the country's brightest lights is
BYD – whose name stands for Build Your Dream – which is now bringing sustainable, electric technology to the massive market. And did we mention that Warren Buffett's a fan? Probably a good sign, that.
Photo courtesy of BYD
1. Google: Not even a few years ago, the concept of a self-driving car would have sounded ludicrous – if not slightly terrifying. But leave it to Google and its team leader Chris Urmson to come up with a self-driving model that isn't just remarkably efficient, but also
pretty cute. Plus, not only will the vehicles make driving hands-free, they'll even help us
save on gas. So sit back, relax, and admit your human fallibility.
Photo courtesy of Google
2. Honda: Ranked amongst the
greenest car companies this year, Honda has been working hard to make their everyday models as eco-friendly as possible, with a focus on fuel efficiency, hybrids, and other environmentally conscious choices. On the side, they've also pioneered concept cars like the FCEV, a fuel cell-powered vehicle that has a 300-mile range (and wouldn't look out of place in "Tron").
Photo courtesy of Honda
3. Ford: Gone are the days of the puttering Model-T (though that was plenty innovative in its day). These days, Ford is known as a leader of all things green. For evidence, look not just to pioneers like the hybrid Ford Focus, but also to new concept models like the
C-Max Solar Energi, which is powered not just by electricity but also by solar panels. You might not want to park this one in the garage.
Photo courtesy of Ford
5. SpaceX: Speaking of Mr. Musk, we should also mention that he isn't
only the CEO of Tesla. No, that would be underachieving. The 43-year-old also heads up
SpaceX, a company with plans to
reportedly dominate personal space travel across the solar system by 2100. Well, it's always good to have realistic goals.
Photo courtesy of SpaceX
6. Martin Jetpack: You know all those jokes you make about being disappointed in the future because you don't have a jetpack? It's time to quit whining. New Zealand-based
Martin Jetpack has arrived. Recently redesigned, the company's product is expected to start selling commercially this year. As of now, you can expect to hit top speeds of 46 mph when strapped in. The future really
is now.
Photo courtesy of Martin Jetpack
7. Terrafugia: What's the next logical step after jetpacks? Why, flying cars, of course. Leave it to Woburn, MA-based company
Terrafugia, whose Transition model looks like a personal rocket and is currently street – and sky – legal. Up next is the concept TF-X, a plug-in hybrid electric flying car. How long until we can start zipping around in one of those?
Photo courtesy of Terrafugia
8. Elio Motors: It's a car! It's a motorcycle! No, it's the
Elio, a slick little vehicle that's accessible like a bike, but safe as a car. Made for city streets and affordable for most budgets, it's poised to debut soon. Better hurry, though – let's just say
it's already looking popular.
Photo courtesy of Elio Motors
9. BMW: So you live to be behind the wheel of something sporty. But do you feel good about your carbon footprint afterwards? If you're driving a Beemer, you could very well: The company's new, all-electric i3 EV has been
rated by the EPA as one of the best-performing cars for 2014. Fast
and green.
Photo courtesy of BMW
10. BYD: With a billion plus people (and more and more car owners among them), China is poised for transportation innovation. One of the country's brightest lights is
BYD – whose name stands for Build Your Dream – which is now bringing sustainable, electric technology to the massive market. And did we mention that Warren Buffett's a fan? Probably a good sign, that.
Photo courtesy of BYD
