5 car technologies you must know

    Cars often have all kinds of new technology and features that people have never seen or used. Some car owners buy a fully functional car but never know they can heat the seats with the push of a button. They pay extra for a feature and never know it exists.

    Nowadays, new automotive technologies are being introduced to the market at such a fast pace that consumers don’t even know how to use them, so you’d better figure out what new technologies and new features you are paying for when buying a car.

    Here are five iconic automotive technologies, some of which can save lives.

Adaptive cruise control system

    What it is: A cruise control system that automatically adjusts your speed based on the speed of the vehicle ahead.

    Importance: Adaptive cruise control is becoming more and more popular. People who often drive on the highway will quickly fall in love with this function because maintaining a constant speed can reduce fuel consumption, maintaining a constant distance from the car can improve driving safety, and it also frees up the tired right foot.

Speech Recognition Technology

    What it is: A driver-assistance technology that relies on voice control of in-car functions, including but not limited to adjusting the air conditioning and finding songs on an iPod.

    Importance: Using voice commands instead of buttons and switches allows you to keep your hands on the steering wheel. In addition, voice recognition technology comes with a hands-free calling function. Ten states in the United States now prohibit drivers from using their hands to operate the phone, and other states are following suit. The significance of voice recognition can be seen.

    In addition, it is also important to learn how to use voice recognition technology correctly, because some systems can only recognize specific command sentences. If you don't spend time studying, it will be inconvenient to use.

Collision Warning

    What it is: Often paired with adaptive cruise control, the sensor radar not only automatically maintains a safe distance between vehicles, but also issues warnings when the distance is too small or the vehicle is going too fast, and automatically brakes, reacting faster than humans.

    Why it matters: This feature is often included in a safety package. You should find out if your car has automatic braking because, at best, it can save lives, and at worst, it can help prevent a few slow-parking collisions.

Blind spot detection

    What it is: An active safety system that uses radar and cameras to monitor blind spots, alerting the driver with lights when a vehicle enters the blind spot. In addition, the blind spot detection system will sound a warning sound when there is a vehicle in the lane the driver is about to merge into.

    Why it's important: Although each manufacturer's blind spot detection systems are different, they all work reliably and effectively, emitting light prompts when there is a car in the blind spot and emitting warning sounds when changing lanes.

    It is easy to use and you will be fully adapted to it after driving on the highway for a few days. You will find that you will always subconsciously check the blind spot indicator on the A-pillar before changing lanes, and your trust in it will increase.

    But if you are driving someone else's car and there is no blind spot detection function, you need to be more careful.

Extended Range Electric Vehicles

    What it is: An electric vehicle that runs on batteries for short distances (10 to 35 miles) and uses a gasoline generator to charge the batteries for longer distances. Representative models include the Chevrolet Volta, Ford C-Max Energi, plug-in Prius and Fisker Karma.

    Importance: When driving an extended-range electric vehicle, users can choose to use electricity or gasoline according to the distance of the journey. This eliminates the "range anxiety" of driving a pure electric vehicle, and users do not have to worry about running out of battery but having nowhere to charge.

     Most Americans drive less than 40 miles a day, so the 35-mile pure electric range of the Chevrolet Volt and the 20-mile pure electric range of the Ford C-Max are more than enough.