Let's explore how transportation has continually reshaped the way we live, work, and play - and how Autonomous Vehicles (AVs) will drive the next transformative shift. Imagine a world where the cost of transportation plummets, where your car drives itself, where distance no longer matters, and where drones deliver emergency aid or forgotten groceries right to your doorstep (or landing pad). That's the focus of this week's serialization of my book, "A Brief History of a Perfect Future," coauthored with Paul Carroll and Tim Andrews .
Throughout history, each new form of transportation has redefined our world. The steam engine fueled expansion and global trade; cars reshaped cities and created suburbs; trucks revolutionized commerce via the interstate highway system; and jet engines compressed world travel into a single day.
Consider the Erie Canal, completed in 1825. This "big ditch" connected the Great Lakes to the Hudson River, reducing travel time across 363 miles from 45 days by wagon to nine days by barge. More critically, cargo costs dropped by 99.5%, as two mules could now pull a barge carrying 100,000 pounds, unlocking the North American interior for settlement and trade. Boom towns including Buffalo, Rochester, Syracuse, and Albany sprang up, and New York City emerged as a global commercial hub.
AVs promise to trigger another seismic shift in transportation, following a "Law of Zero" where costs plummet and accessibility soars. While transportation won’t be entirely free, expenses will dramatically decrease. For example, eliminating human drivers could transform ride-sharing services and long-haul trucking.
And it's not just about cost. The time cost of driving will disappear with full autonomy, making distance much less relevant. Even long journeys will become productive, as passengers transform vehicles into mobile offices or entertainment hubs, carrying their digital worlds - phones, computers, VR goggles - with them.
AVs will unlock new possibilities, break design constraints, and inspire unforeseen innovations. This isn't merely about the future of transportation; it's about reimagining how we live, work, and interact with the world around us.
Listen to the full chapter now and explore the future of transportation with us. We'd love to hear your thoughts.
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