Rinspeed Budii Gives a Taste of How Future EVs Might Look Like

 Electric Cars  

Although the Rinspeed's Budii concept car probably will never go into full production anytime soon, the electric vehicle gives us a pretty good idea of what direction the development of EVs might take in the near future.

Electric vehicle technology continues to advance pretty fast, and they are set to become commonplace in the near future, so we can expect to see more different models being introduced to market, and also at auto shows around the globe. One such model will be showcased at the upcoming Geneva Auto Show, which will be held in March next year. It's Rinspeed's Budii concept, which even though is not likely to go into production anytime soon, gives us a pretty good idea of what direction the development of EVs might take in the following years.

"Autonomous driving undoubtedly offers the opportunity to drastically diminish some of the drawbacks of private transport; for example, the number of traffic accidents could drop worldwide."

It's a concept that takes electric vehicle technology to a whole new level, combining it with autonomous driving technology, which is seen as the future of transportation. The Budii, developed by the Swiss design company Rinspeed, is a self-driving all-electric car, that looks a lot like the BMW i3 from the outside, and is equipped with vehicle-to-vehicle communication, in addition to driverless technology. The company, that unveiled the XchangE concept last year, another electric car with autonomous driving capabilities, says that the Budii is a “friendly concept”, since it is able to learn the preferences of the owner and provide an exceptionally comfortable and enjoying ride.

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The interior of the car is quite extraordinary, with a steering wheel that can change positions and can be mounted on the center console so that there is more space for passengers to sit back and relax when the autonomous driving system is turned on. Also, it's a very flexible concept, since it allows the driver to choose whether to activate the self-driving mode, or grab the wheel and control the vehicle by themselves. The Budii keeps track of all past journeys, and suggest the best route for you, or adjust the settings of different in-vehicle systems, to provide a more enjoyable ride.

What's more, it can communicate with other vehicles, in order to receive and share information about road and weather conditions, so that it can help the driver avoid road hazards and traffic jams, thus helping ease traffic congestion.

“Autonomous driving undoubtedly offers the opportunity to drastically diminish some of the drawbacks of private transport; for example, the number of traffic accidents could drop worldwide,” Rinspeed founder Frank Rinderknecht said in a statement.

The 2015 Geneva Auto Show will be held March 5 through March 15, and Rinspeed's Budii is likely to be one of the stars there.

By Jordan Perch

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Author Bio - 33rd Square contributor Jordan Perch is an automotive fanatic and “safe driving” specialist. He is a writer for DMV.com, which is a collaborative community designed to help ease the stress and annoyance of “dealing with the DMV.”