By Fauzia Sadiq Garcia 

While brainstorming content for this parking-themed issue, we couldn’t help but wonder, what will the future of driving look like? Will we have flying cars like in Blade Runner? Will parking have a different connotation to us, with streets returning to pedestrians and clean technology utilized for transportation? With technological advancement exponentially evolving through artificial intelligence (AI), we are on the cusp of a major shift in planning and design. We don’t have a crystal ball to predict the future, but we can share some innovative ideas and prototypes. 

The automotive industry has pivoted to electric vehicles (EV) as a cleaner alternative to internal combustion engines. This major transition has not been without growing pains. Some aspects to consider: In the event of a severe accident, the EV battery box could burn for several hours; batteries are considered hazardous waste with sporadic recycling centers in the United States1; battery life is compromised in colder climates with a charge not lasting as long; battery replacement is almost the same cost as purchasing a new car; charging stations aren’t currently available everywhere; and waiting hours to charge your EV on a long road trip just isn’t appealing to most Americans.  

Dynamic wireless charging for electric vehicles is being beta-tested in Detroit, Michigan, on the nation’s first public EV-charging roadway2. This technology provides continuous charging while in-motion — a charging mechanism (inductive charging through copper coils and a patent receiver) is installed below the road surface.  

According to MDOT Director Bradley Wieferich, “Developing electrified roadways may be the catalyst to accelerate interest and acceptance of EVs for all consumers. Making it easier for EV users to find a reliable charging source without disrupting their commute supports both fleet operations and passenger travel.” 

For this type of technology to be adopted nationwide, significant federal investment is required (beyond the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law3), along with a shift in mindset on capital spending that hasn’t been seen since the Federal-Aid Highway Act of 1956 which created our present-day interstate system4. In researching the Highway Act, I was struck by how succinctly President Eisenhower spoke on the need for free movement (instead of toll roads). This quote captures his sentiment clearly: “Our unity as a nation is sustained by free communication of thought and by easy transportation of people and goods. The ceaseless flow of information throughout the republic is matched by individual and commercial movement over a vast system of interconnected highways crisscrossing the country...” Post-construction, we recognize that interstate highways bifurcated communities, predominately in underrepresented areas, and that we are still feeling the effects throughout the nation. Any new technological adoption must be distributed fairly and equally throughout the country.  

A family member of mine hailed an autonomous taxi this year and found the experience quite exciting. The Automated Driving Systems (ADS) feature multiple cameras, LiDAR, radar, and an onboard AI computer for navigation (image, top). When you watch videos of the car driving on city streets it’s eerie to see the steering wheel turn as these cars are retrofitted with the ADS equipment. Eventually, cars will be manufactured solely for vehicular automation. Claiming better navigability and reduced car crashes compared to humans, companies have finally started to get a foothold in certain cities after decades of investment. However, a recent pedestrian fatality in California suspended one company — the AI couldn’t compute when many issues occurred simultaneously5. Human reflexes still haven’t been effectively replicated, and some people are so annoyed by these vehicles that they’ve purposely disoriented or vandalized autonomous taxis.  

Vehicular automation and wireless charging were intrinsic when Foster + Partners collaborated with Nissan on the Future of Mobility Concept6. They envisioned a future where vehicles played a part in a large network of electrification (image, right). Since EVs don’t produce emissions, it’s possible to park your car directly inside which eliminates traditional garage limitations. EV batteries could also provide power for a building when needed; solar panels could charge the EV during daylight hours. In a commercial setting, multiple EVs could be stacked with automated parking systems that are more space efficient, and the EVs could give back to the grid. If cars are still parked on streets, vehicular automation could move EVs to a wireless charging location and move the car back when fully charged. Automation would also impact the design of our roadways since vehicles could be spaced more closely together by removing the largest risk for driving: human error. As David Nelson, head of design at Foster + Partners, says, “Transport, linked to energy production, storage and the physical effects on our cities, is a big piece of the equation.”  

Another potential transformation could come from green hydrogen. It can be used like natural gas but, like EVs, doesn’t produce any emissions. To distill the most abundant element in the universe, water electrolysis is employed to split the hydrogen and oxygen using renewable energy power7. In 2023, North America’s largest green hydrogen plant began operations in California. There are hopes that this sector can impact industry, transportation, energy storage, and aeronautics. In my opinion, hydrogen has the most potential in a cleaner future since, unlike lithium, it doesn’t need to be mined to create batteries and there’s no waste in the product. Automakers are pivoting to hydrogen fuel cell cars and dabbling in urban planning to project their idealized vision. In fact, Toyota started construction on their master planned city — Woven City, located at the base of Mount Fuji — powered by hydrogen fuel cells8. They envision a collaborative community to co-create, test and build products that address everyday aspects of life including movement of people, goods, information and energy. Toyota hired Bjarke Ingels Group9 for the master plan. The design utilizes fully autonomous robots assisting with drone deliveries, at-home care and prototyping new ideas. Underground is a built-out infrastructure for hydrogen production/distribution, and an autonomous goods delivery network. Akin to Disney’s underground infrastructure, this system would be fully automated to leverage more access to nature for residents above. Tracking this project should provide great insight into our future cities.  

Finally, I had to address the dream of flying cars — it’s not as far fetched as we think. NASA is funding research into Advanced Air Mobility (AAM), using air transportation in low altitudes for passenger transport, cargo delivery and public service necessities10. AAM uses Electric Vertical Takeoff and Landing (eVTOL) aircraft that can be powered by hybrid electric systems, batteries or potentially hydrogen fuel cells. Landing space is not required since the aircraft goes directly up or down. They range in size from single passenger to large shuttles, and don’t generate the noise that we are familiar with in helicopters. In fact, during the 2024 Paris Olympics, an eVTOL company made its debut with a crewed test flight. By 2030, firms predict that AAM operators could rival traditional airlines in flights per day, length of travel time, and fleet size (see above). Coupled with autonomous flying, this could be our next big step in transportation. Imagine sitting back and relaxing while sky-trippin! As designers, the landing pads will become crucial since rooftops might very well become the new “front door” to a building. 

The next decade will likely see advancements in many different sectors and it will be fascinating to see how humans adapt to these new conditions. The thought of flying cars still excites me, and I would be the first to adopt this new form of transportation. We are closer and closer to replicating images from science fiction. Now is a good time to really question what is required for these new transportation systems so that we can influence how they are being designed. In the end, most can agree that vehicles have overtaken our streets and are no longer an ideal situation. Many cities have given streets back to pedestrians and perhaps it’s only a matter of time until air-lanes will become the streets of the future, leaving pedestrians to enjoy the ground level. ■ 

Fauzia Sadiq Garcia, RA, LEED AP is an Associate Professor at Temple University, a partner at Sadiq Garcia Design LLP, and a member of the AIA Philadelphia Board and the Context Editorial Board. She has several decades of professional experience working at firms in Atlanta, New York City and Philadelphia on high-profile international projects and award-winning national projects. Sadiq Garcia’s teaching career spans nearly a decade and she serves as curriculum coordinator for Temple’s architecture majors.  

ENDNOTES 

1. www.npr.org/2024/06/27/nx-s1-5019454/ev-battery-recycling 

2. https://detroitmi.gov/news/mdot-city-detroit-and-electreon-unveil-nations-first-public-ev-charging-roadway-michigan-central 

3. www.fhwa.dot.gov/bipartisan-infrastructure-law/ 

4. https://highways.dot.gov/public-roads/summer-1996/federal-aid-highway-act-1956-creating-interstate-system 

5. www.bloomberg.com/news/newsletters/2024-07-05/waymo-s-robotaxi-rollout-is-a-landmark-moment-for-driverless-cars 

6. www.fosterandpartners.com/news/foster-plus-partners-joins-nissan-for-a-glimpse-into-the-future 

7. https://climate.mit.edu/ask-mit/how-clean-green-hydrogen 

8. www.woven-city.global 

9.https://big.dk/projects/toyota-woven-city-6360 

10. www.nasa.gov/mission/aam/ 

CAPTIONS:  

Dynamic wireless charging for electric vehicles is being piloted in Detroit   
PHOTO: ELECTREON.COM/TECHNOLOGY  

AN AUTONOMOUS FUTURE A visualization of how AV systems work 

PHOTO: WWW.FOSTERANDPARTNERS.COM/NEWS/FOSTER-PLUS-PARTNERS-JOINS-NISSAN-FOR-A-GLIMPSE-INTO-THE-FUTURE  

Emission-less EVs open up a new world of urban design and transportation planning 

PHOTO: BIG.DK/PROJECTS/TOYOTA-WOVEN-CITY-6360  

 DREAMSCAPE Toyota’s Woven City in Japan seeks to incubate ambitious urban design  
PHOTO: WWW.MCKINSEY.COM/FEATURED-INSIGHTS/THE-NEXT-NORMAL/AIR-TAXIS 

An example of a Vertical Takeoff and Landing Aircraft 

PHOTO: NBAA.ORG/AIRCRAFT-OPERATIONS/EMERGING-TECHNOLOGIES/ADVANCED-AIR-MOBILITY-AAM/