The car at the crossroads

SAE 100 Future look: As we celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Society of Automotive Engineers, it is fitting that we look back at the outstanding achievements of the past century before we look with determination at the challenges that lie ahead.

There is no doubt that what our children and grandchildren will be driving will be quite different from what's in the garage today. Change is nothing new in the automotive industry.

At the start of the last century, 40% of the automotive fleet used electricity, 40% steam, and less than 15% gasoline for propulsion. Gasoline won the fight for supremacy during the century-something no one would have been able to predict at its beginning.