Imagined Future Scenarios
Manufacturing, Plausible Futures, Medium Term (3 - 5 years)
Scenario Generated from 'GM Wants To Sell More EVs Because They Aren't Losing Money On Them Anymore' - Jalopnik
Future Arc and Implications
Grow Arc
Social Impact: Increased individual expression and status through personalized EVs leads to a more stratified society.
Technological Impact: 3D-printing and on-demand manufacturing technology continues to advance, further enabling customization and scaling production.
Ecological Impact: Overall environmental impact increases with higher consumption rates of personalized EVs despite improvements in efficiency.
Economic Impact: EV manufacturing booms, creating numerous jobs, and fueling economic growth in specialized material and design sectors.
Political Impact: Governments struggle to regulate the rapidly evolving 3D-printing industry and address the environmental consequences of mass customization.
Narrative: Personalized EV ownership becomes ubiquitous, driving economic expansion and technological advancement at unsustainable consumption rates.
Collapse Arc
Social Impact: Supply chain disruptions and resource scarcity make personalized EVs inaccessible, exacerbating existing social inequalities.
Technological Impact: Breakdown of global supply chains hinders access to materials and specialized components needed for 3D-printing EVs.
Ecological Impact: Environmental disasters disrupt manufacturing operations and resource extraction impacting EV production.
Economic Impact: The personalized EV market crashes due to economic instability, resource scarcity, and supply chain failures.
Political Impact: Geopolitical instability and resource wars further disrupt global supply chains and impede manufacturing efforts.
Narrative: Resource scarcity and systemic failures cripple global production, leading to the collapse of the personalized EV market and transportation infrastructure.
Discipline Arc
Social Impact: Standardized EV designs become mandatory, promoting accessibility and reducing resource consumption, potentially stifling individual expression.
Technological Impact: Centralized control over 3D-printing and manufacturing processes ensures efficient resource utilization and standardized EV production.
Ecological Impact: Strict regulations and resource management minimize the environmental impact of EV production and consumption.
Economic Impact: A centrally planned economy prioritizes standardized EV production for essential transportation needs, limiting innovation and competition.
Political Impact: Government controls all aspects of the EV industry, enforcing standardization and resource management for societal benefit.
Narrative: Standardized, efficient EV production is enforced by a central authority to ensure sustainable transportation and equitable access for all citizens.
Transform Arc
Social Impact: Shared ownership models and open-source designs foster a collaborative culture of EV creation and maintenance, empowering local communities.
Technological Impact: Advancements in bio-printing and regenerative materials revolutionize EV production with sustainable and eco-friendly alternatives.
Ecological Impact: EV production uses closed-loop systems with biodegradable materials, minimizing waste and environmental impact.
Economic Impact: Decentralized, localized manufacturing empowers communities through creation of sustainable and resilient supply chains.
Political Impact: Community-led initiatives and decentralized governance foster local control over EV production and resource management.
Narrative: A fundamental shift towards sustainable, community-driven EV production transforms transportation into a decentralized and environmentally conscious system.
