We no doubt live in very interesting times. Some of the advances in technology, human ingenuity and the like are pushing us to efficiencies not imagined only a couple decades ago. I for one love the changes, the question arises, are we ready? Some are and some certainly are not.
Self-driving cars, hyperloops, electric vehicles, ride-sharing... the list goes on and on.
Predicting the future in the middle of multiple ongoing disruptions in urban car ownership is difficult. But it’s also a question with great timing as Tony Seba, a Stanford economist among other things, just released a co-authored study which made the following claims:
- Private car ownership will drop 80% by 2030 in the US.
- The number of passenger vehicles on American roads will go from 247 million in 2020 to 44 million in 2030.
- Using electric ride-shares will be four to ten times cheaper per mile than buying a new car by 2021 (and each family could save up to $5,600 per year, compared to purchasing and maintaining a traditional vehicle).
(Via Forbes)
Whatever transpires, I am all for efficiency and ease of movement. Upward mobility for most of our World and citizens.