Interesting…. wonder what it would do for the feel of the car on the road…

Saab has been experimenting with valveless motors a while. The motor had power advantage of 20% as was reported. As far as “feel” it can be calibrated, just like power steering and brakes to provide a “feel”.

Shift by wire I can see, but steer and brake by wire? You can just see the recalls/lawsuits/death-toll…

Have to agree with 350Zed, they better have a foolproof system in place before bringing it to market. One thing about mechanical steering and brake systems is the vehicle can still be operated with a loss of fluid pressure. If you lose an electronic relay- then what?

next someone will invent a portable EMP devise and take out your car, ahhh there goes the X girlfriends

My thought has always been the less electronics the better. Kiss fixing your own vehicle goodbye here in the near future. You’ll have to be an computer engineer to even think about it. Last time I went to the dealer for my car they were able to pan thru the speakers and adjust the radio thru the obd2 plug in. I was pretty suprised by that.

if anyone experienced dead engine in Lincoln Continental at 30 mph, they would know that loss of fluid pressure does not allow you to operate THAT vehicle. I guess that is why even small planes had triple hydraulics. Newer ones have electromechanical set ups.
It makes much easier to maintain vehicle with electronics for couple of reasons: first of all electronics is less prone to failure then mechanical devices and second it provides information and can retain information about malfunction, so guess work can be minimized. It helps to own obd II device

That’s all well and groovy xyunya, provided the malfunction doesn’t kill you first. At that point I wouldn’t give a sh*t what the black box said.

About the Continental: I lost power steering in a Lumina Z34 and yes it was like trying to steer the Titanic with a paddle- but you could turn the car. I think it used to be called ArmStrong power steering.

johnnycanuck, flying planes is less dangerous then driving cars, but not all of us can afford planes. And cost of high octane fuel and plane insurance are totally insane. Yes you can be killed in a car. Have you ever seen mental test before license issuance? I see a lot of lunatics on the road (and some posts here are proof of my statements).
You arms either much stronger then mine or Lumina was much lighter then Continental. Small tree and big bush helped (no not the President).

…although I have no doubt your Mr. Bush would have stood there like a dear caught in the headlights.

The problem with commuting by aircraft is, of course, where do you park? Now helicopters on the other hand…

I agreed on 350Zed.

As much As I think it is a cool idea the have total drive by wire, I’m not so sure we are fully prepared for it. Even it it were really dumb electronics, like 1970s everything is totally hard wired stuff, I would have my doubts. The vast majority of automakers prescribe to the “only exactly just enough” mentality when it comes to manufacturing, especially Electronics.

It would be possible to build a total drive by wire system but I think I would rather not until some issues are worked out, like what to do when the engine dies on you. Generally the battery would be used to provide power to get you off the road and stop the car. Siemens Germany developed “EM” brakes, basically it is a servo operated brake that works faster, are less expensive, and more reliable than hydraulic brakes. In a plug-in hybrid I can see the battery being used to bring the car down, Of course you would still have a mechanical hand brake if nothing else worked. Steering would be handles the same way. I know TESLA, among others, must be looking at this for future models.

But unfortunately, I don’t see total drive by wire working out well for quite some time, Flight by wire works for aircraft, especially super modern fighter planes. I can see it in race cars where weight and space can be an issue. But the everyday car, even rarefied super sports cars, I can not see it for the obvious reasons others have mentioned.

On the other side…

Maintenance would be less of an issue. Easier to fix and even upgrade. Electronics are more flexible in how they can be set up and where they can be put in a car. It would also cost less.

Saving weight and reducing the number of parts that can wear out of malfunction.

As cars grow away from the ICE for pressure and vacuum and what ever else needed to run the hydraulics for steering and braking, going drive by wire is going to become a very necessary reality.

I just hope that in their zeal to make this happen, that the manufacturers realize that “Only Exactly Just Enough is ALWAYS too little” and make this stuff like they mean it to out last the rest of the car.

johnnycanuck, the answer is simple: make more money live in a airfield community (there are few of those around) and avoid driving into bush, unless it shaved.
Blakkar, there are number of cars with electric steering assist vs. hydrolic. As far as brakes in hybrid, you can use generator to generate brake electricity instead of heat. Of course that the subject of concern for cancer in the nuts. I agree, it is hard to balance everything.
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I hope the Euro car companies ton’t try this, otherwise you’re going to see some jacked up cars for at least 10 years.

All this, and the old Murano bodyshell? What’s not to love?

Johnny, you are into choppers now? They are fun to fly. I am sorry I did not go for certification when I had a chance.

autonut: I’m thinking purely of a more efficient way to wisk our executives the first 20 miles of their journey in less time than it takes to do the next 2000.

Blakkarr: The EPS (electronic power steering) in newer Hondas lasts much longer than their conventional hydraulic. The only downside is the videogame feel since it’s so linear.