Car ecosystem is changing in front of our eyes – from tape recorders to pre-installed head units and now to In-Vehicle Infotainment (IVI) systems. So the most popular topic in auto software community is the future platform for ”infotainment systems” – as if somebody knows what it is. Let’s talk about expert opinions, starting with most common one – MeeGo. Notice that we consider MeeGo and GENIVI equivalent for the purposes of this discussion.
MeeGo pros are:
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Why can’t people make really good stuff? Of course, sometimes, they simply don’t know how to do their job at a high level. Some try it this way, others try it that way, but normally the result is nothing to shout about. Things happen.
Sometimes the only way to get a good result is to pay a high price. And if you try to save a little, the result isn’t going to be that good. With wrong materials and inappropriate technologies you deal with what you have at hand. It’s a compromise…
I am discussing the future of automotive very often. Sometimes with people who are smart and experienced in the subject. And… It seems to me something is wrong in “mass mind” regarding electric cars, which are the strongest technology trend in automotive.
We all see that everybody considers electric cars are to be “vehicles of future”. Nobody doubts: petrol is ending, earlier or later it will become too expensive. Electric motors are having better ratio, easier in control, ecologically clearer and so on. And many people wants to push e-cars to the market just now. But fails. Fails due to the small distance to recharge, worse dynamics, not ready infrastructure… many reasons. Or many claims?
I insist in the main problem is outside of this area. The main problem is in “mass mind”. There are two main trends in e-cars engineering. One is “just a car, but on electric power”. They try to replace gasoline engine with electric engine not changing other characteristics like body design, dynamics etc. For smooth transfer of the users from traditional to e-cars. It doesn’t work. Because e-power is not gasoline power and e-car can not be the same to traditional cars.
There is another trend. People try to do “something very different”. Exotic. Non-functional, non-native, but looking different to traditional cars. And mass user doesn’t accept this. For sure.
I am wondered why nobody does the very simple thing. Position e-car as “not a regular car”. Just vehicle with obvious and native characteristics. E-car must be (technically) light? Make it for one/two persons. The most time we are driving alone. It must have good aerodynamics? Make it in traditional sport style. Retro. Carbon. Plastic. It can not be as fast as traditional cars? How many people in big cities need to go faster that 50 km/h? Just don’t position it as a competitor to gasoline car. Do it special “everyday” vehicle. For students. For young. For active. Who needs wheels. Who wants to be different. And would not want just to compete with others. I am sure, it will work. At least electric scooters idea is working. Just now.
Hell… Delphi Corp. and Visteon are under bankruptcy! It seems automotive is on the bottom, lower than anything else.
