The transformation of the idle transportation industry will innovate during this year as transit systems not only move people and goods between places but mitigate time and distance —bringing us closer together. Some of the Transportation Technologies Driving 2019 are:
Will autonomous cars and trucks finally be around?
There is no doubt that self-driving vehicles are becoming a commercial reality: almost all major automotive companies are (in-house or in partnership) developing and testing autonomous vehicle concepts: Google and Baidu, Amazon, Intel, Aptiv, Audi and Volvo, Tesla, Bosh and Mercedes, BMW and others. 2019 is a critical transition year for autonomous cars and trucks that will see the technology move from the R&D stage to early phases of commercialization.
There is an estimation of 10 million self-driving vehicles by the end of 2020 according to BI Intelligence: delivering Transit-as-a-service (TaaS) in select cities, neighborhoods, parks, and theme parks.
Are electric scooters surviving the controversy?
Electric Scooter companies like Bird, Lime, or Spin have provoked controversy in cities around the globe. Both un-helmeted riders (zipping in and out of traffic) and carelessly parked scooters (obstructing sidewalks and streets) probes why new modes of transport must have correspondent infrastructure systems to accommodate them without interfering with pedestrians on sidewalks or bikers and buses in dedicated lanes.
Electric Scooters and Motorcycles global market size is estimated to be valued at $19 billion USD in 2018 by Bekryl market analysts, even with the lack of universal value and the urgent need for dedicated infrastructure.
Are flying cars becoming a reality?
The technology behind Vertical Takeoff and Landing (VTOL) vehicles is quickly being developed by major players like Uber, Boeing, Airbus, Bell, or Volkswagen and has the potential to become a commercial reality. As piloted (commercial drones) and un-piloted (military helicopters or fighter jets) technologies have been available for some time, the challenge for VTOL vehicles is logistical, not technological. Some infrastructure concerns for midrange airborne transit have to be resolved: Where will VTOL vehicles take off from and land? How much airspace do they need? What are their travel patterns? How will the safety of passengers be ensured? How much will they cost?
According to optimistical calculations from Morgan Stanley, Flying Cars could become a $2.9 trillion global market by 2040 and they will definitely have an influential role in the future of transportation.
Will companies launch people into space?
Space transportation is within reach of private citizens and will become a viable mode of transportation as the commercialization of both low Earth orbit and deep space is being accelerated by SpaceX, Blue Origin, Virgin Galactic, and others. However, there is a lot of work to do before ordinary civilians can go into space and return back home safely, like developing and perfecting several commercial space flight infrastructural systems.
Despite that, Analytical Research Cognizance estimated space tourism market will reach globally US$ 1270 Million by 2023.