Cars have come a long way during their short – just over a hundred years – existence, and it follows that car maintenance has been on a similar journey during that time too. Car maintenance now will be almost unrecognizable to a mechanic from the 50s or 60s, and the technology is constantly upgrading and advancing. It is important for motorists to know about updated car technology so that they keep their vehicle up to date and do not face any hurdle while traveling around UK areas like London, Birmingham or even Buckinghamshire!
Let’s take a look at what technologies you can expect to use in 2023 and beyond.
Going All Electric
The age of electric vehicles is upon us, and this will only increase as more and more countries and companies phase out the use of fossil fuels and environmentally unfriendly practices. Mechanics will have to adapt to electric motors and new technologies, but car maintenance is more likely to become a system where fixed units are simply swapped out and connected up when they fail or show signs of wear and tear.
More Computers
In fact, mechanics are likely to morph into something more like an IT guy as the technology sees more and more computers embedded into vehicles. This means that mechanics will be able to diagnose car problems with a few taps of a screen (or clicks of a computer mouse) using readouts and digital data to uncover what would have taken an old-school mechanic a lot of time and effort under a car in the dirt and grease.
You’ll Need More Tyres
Electric vehicles are heavier than their ignition engine counterparts and this can make them chew through tyre rubber at a much greater rate. Studies say that electric vehicle owners use up to thirty percent more rubber than ignition engine cars, meaning that you should perhaps establish a good relationship with a reputable tyre supplier sooner rather than later. Having roadworthy and reliable tyres can help your car run smoothly on different road terrains in the long run too. You should also know that tyres need to be carefully inspected from time to time as it is the only car part that is directly in contact with the road surface. Moreover, if you are trying to find a garage for tyre fitting in Buckinghamshire: experts at Broadway Autocentre can help you choose the right tyres. Birmingham also has many local tyre shops and you can choose after checking their customer reviews.
But Not More Brake Pads!
Oddly enough, because of the way electric cars operate, using brake power to recharge the vehicle in a process called regenerative braking, your brake pads will not suffer as much wear and tear as they previously would have. There are some early Teslas which have passed the 100,000 kilometers mark on their odometers, and which still have their original brake pads in good working order. Regenerative braking works to pass the kinetic energy through the brake pad and back into the battery, rather than leaving the brake pad to contain all the force of drawing the vehicle to a stop. Therefore, despite the heaviness of electric vehicles and the added brake-force power needed to stop the heavier car, you will not be replacing your brake pads very often. Or at all!
Your Car Might Boss You Around!
The computer power loaded into cars is already on the increase, and the next advances might even have your car talking you through how to perform small repairs and replacements. The CEO of Vesper, Jimi Smoot can foresee a time in the near future when you break down far from home. Your vehicle will ask you some diagnostic questions about the breakdown and ascertain what the problem is. Next the vehicle will tell you what you need to do, giving details of the part number and even using Wi-Fi to locate the nearest outlet selling it. After you have hailed a taxi or walked to get the part, the car will then lead you through the step-by-step process needed to fit, test and tighten the spare part, before you continue on your way.
Other advances are likely to include your car letting your garage know what issues it is facing before you arrive, automatically sending texts to preselected recipients when a breakdown occurs, and even ordering new parts as it senses the old ones beginning to fail.