Food for Thought

All of the students agree that we’ll have moved beyond fossil fuels by 2049. Young Seong Kim, 27, from South Korea, exhibits one of the more inventive eco-friendly power sources on display. To charge his ‘Boanerge’ concept with electricity, the driver steers the capsule into a waterfall where it becomes a turbine that rotates to generate power.

Nearly everyone also agrees that the world in 2049 will be even more hectic and stressful. Several of the student designs aim to help us cope with that scenario. Oliver Sharp, 24, from the UK, perceives his translucent bubble-like concept with winglets instead of wheels as a ‘freedom device’, a sanctuary for the user from the anxieties of the world. Stephanie Waser, 23, from Germany, has a more feminine solution – an innovative vehicle interior dotted with circular cushions. Meanwhile, Hyunjoon Park, 25, from South Korea, tackles the issue with a concept called ‘Breakthrough’ that incorporates performance art (the person in the large cardboard box that I encountered on my arrival).

“We feel most comfortable when we meet someone who makes us feel compassion,” Park explains. “We will have the most intimate interaction with cars that look like us.” 
Taking this harmonious vehicle and driver relationship one step further is another South Korean student, Jong Won Lee, 33. His ‘Neuron’ concept is a wheel-less, single seater for those who want to enjoy racing in the desert. It’s controlled by a neuro-technology system that allows the driver to move the vehicle by using brain activity.

Another issue that emerges is a pressing desire to stand out from the crowd. According to UK student Niki Merriman, 23, “It’ll be harder to be an individual, so personalisation will be important for the customer. Why does a vehicle have to be one colour all the time?” His concept glows different shades depending on the mood and feelings of the user.