Freeman Dyson, an English theoretical physicist, in his book Imagined Worlds, talked about trees that could be genetically grown to contain energy that cars could simply plug into to fuel up. This idea seemed so organic and technological that it sparked and stoked my imagination for months. I wondered what Dyson's trees would look like... But it looks like there is a much more practical, utilitarian, less organic solution already in the works:
In a recent article in the National Post, the UK government is beginning tests of wireless battery charger lanes for electric and hybrid vehicles. According to the UK government, there is already a pledge to spend £500 million (over $1 billion CDN) over the next five years in order to be world leaders in this technology, claiming it will "boost jobs and growth in the sector." As well, such tests will "help create a more sustainable road network for England and open up new opportunities for business that transport good across the country." The off-road trials will be held over 18 months, and, if successful, will be advanced to road trials.
There are of course many questions that come to mind when considering such proclamations by the British government about wireless road technology that supposedly will create jobs and open up opportunities for business:
1. In whose interest is such technology being built? As we've seen with the Tesla ModelX, the technology for electric cars lies beyond the budget of the average Canadian citizen--it would be the same, I'd suspect, in the U.K. This is like an HOV lane for those who can afford electronic vehicles, and therefore upper-middle to upper-class individuals, leaving the rest stuck in traffic.
2. What opportunities are being opened up? As we've seen in previous posts, electric cargo-trucks will have a profound impact on one of North America's most reliable jobs: trucking. When the vehicles turn autonomous, there will be no need for humans operating the vehicles, hence no more jobs for truckers. And what is the great business opportunity for such wifi-charging lanes? Cheap transportation: no gas to buy, no human to pay. So we see here a great deal of money being spent to a) shut down the transportation industry as we know it, and b) to provide the cheap flow of goods without the injection of money into the greater part of society.
3. Autonomous vehicles: We know where this technology is heading: autonomous vehicles that are self-operating, and now self-powering. With such wifi-charging lanes, there isn't even a human needed to change up the battery or plug it into a charger--technology solves the problem itself. What is left is humans being mere passengers of vehicles, but that's where it ends.
4. Overturning of other industries: With such electric charging lanes, what will become of the oil and gas industries? What will become of auto insurance? (We've already mentioned the shake-up in trucking). There are shifts in industries that we can't even realize yet--but this move to wifi-charging lanes will be highly disruptive.
5. What of your non-electric car? If the government is implementing these lanes, how soon will legislations come into effect that discourage and ultimately prohibit the driving of gas-powered vehicles?
6. Coming to a country nearest you: With the U.K. desiring to become the world's leader in this technology, the other countries of the developed world are sure to follow suit, especially given the pressures for countries to compete in innovation. This is just the beginning--and it is not an anomaly: these technologies will be implemented in all developing countries faster than we think. We need to be prepared, whether as individuals or as business owners. This technology may seem off the radar screen, but it is devastatingly disruptive.
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