Dreaming about the city of the future isn't very hard. In fact, we've been doing that for the last fifty years, but despite technological advances, it's political and economic details that keep us away from that ideal. Any city we imagine as smart must also have smart transportation, but the folks at Nissan go much further, envisioning a close and efficient relationship between city, homes, offices, and electric cars.
The Electric Revolution and Its Impact on Cities
We all know that the transition to renewable energy sources has already begun. Of course, the oil industry isn't going to disappear overnight, and it's logical to assume it will put up a fight for years, since it still moves hundreds of billions of dollars. When Tesla released all its patents in June 2014, its CEO Elon Musk said that the real competition for electric vehicles was conventional cars. Their existence also affects other developments, for example, the very cities we live in. A good part of their infrastructure is designed to make room (a lot of room) for the car that consumes regular fuel. Now... what if this weren't the case? What would it be like to have greater integration between car and city, where a vehicle isn't only a means of transport, but also a source of energy for home and office? (Note: Spanish subtitles available)
The Gas Station of the Future
That is the concept that the folks at Nissan explored together with Foster + Partners, in a video called "The gas station of the future". The point is... there is no gas station in the traditional sense of the word. The entire city is a gas station, with free and unrestricted wireless charging spots that can be occupied autonomously at night thanks to the independent driving of cars. During the day, and if necessary, cars change their role to become energy sources that feed both homes and offices as well as the grid in general. Recycled LEAF batteries that no longer have use in their vehicles become a home storage system, reducing energy waste and extending their useful life. Needless to say, this new automation of cars brings an additional round of benefits, such as the one proposed by MIT in this short film:
In summary, by effectively giving up control of driving, interconnected cars gain the ability to dynamically alter their speed and direction, eliminating old ideas like intersections and traffic lights. Unfortunately, the constant defense of the status quo by inept politicians and businessmen drowned in greed makes us think that Nissan's vision will need entire decades to become reality, or rather, a complete generational change. I hope we get to see it.
