What Car Will Children of the Future Ride In? Roads, buildings, and vehicles will all be connected in the smart cities in 2030, sharing all types of information. In addition, the use of cutting-edge technologies, such as autonomous vehicles, fuel cell electric vehicles, VR, and AI will become widespread. This car’s name is NEXO. It is a fuel cell electric vehicle that runs on power generated by combining hydrogen and oxygen. NEXO is a know-it-all that has an answer to everything. It is so smart it can drive anywhere on its own. NEXO is like my best friend. It picks me up every day after school. It already knows where I need to go and what I want to do. NEXO can read my mind from the way I look and sound, just like Mom and Dad. “Jino, what’s wrong? You look sad.” “Yeah, I messed up my presentation in art class.” “Why?” “I tried to draw and introduce you, but I don’t know enough about you yet…….” On our way home, NEXO explained to me about how hydrogen and oxygen meet and generate electricity and how that electricity can power vehicles. As always, NEXO knew all the answers. At that moment, Dad called me. “Jino, I think I’ll be a bit late. Don’t wait for me, ok? Go ahead home. And please ask NEXO to pick up ingredients for a cake.” “OK. Is it someone’s birthday today?” “Maybe. You’ll find out when Mom gets home.” NEXO is like our butler at home. It runs errands for Dad, turns on the lights when it gets dark, and plays fun music. Devices connected to NEXO do the chores around our house. NEXO can even transform into a comfortable couch, and it helps me play with my friends longer. NEXO is a great navigator. It can find the safest, shortest route to the playground. NEXO communicates with traffic lights and other vehicles on the road to drive us safely. Today it crossed a bridge, passed 23 traffic lights, and made 11 left turns and 9 right turns all on its own! Sometimes NEXO transforms into a moving air purifier. It filters out fine dust and releases clean air. The other day, NEXO and some other fuel cell electric vehicles all inhaled polluted air with their large mouths and burped out purified air. Hey, look, there is a kitten next to the road! “NEXO, that kitten looks sick.” “Poor kitty, let me help him.” NEXO immediately called the animal rescue team and we waited for them to arrive. The rescuers said the kitten was dehydrated. “Poor thing, you were thirsty and tired. Here’s some water!” The little kitten got strong again after drinking the water from NEXO. NEXO is like a real rescuer. On my way to the playground, I met my friend Ari. It’s fun to play games with Ari inside NEXO. It’s not as fun with Dad because I know he loses on purpose. “Hey, guys, should we visit the North Pole today?” So we took off for an adventure to the North Pole. We darted around the Arctic together, carefully staying away from walruses and polar bears. I had so much fun playing the game that I lost track of time and before I knew it we had arrived at the playground! NEXO is like a big water gun. It keeps making more water no matter how much I play with it. Ari and I had lots of fun laughing and playing together. When we got tired, we got into NEXO and took a short nap. While we played, NEXO parked itself in a parking lot and charged up with hydrogen. Ka-boom! Bang! After the thunder, we saw lightning. Dark clouds covered the sky and it became dark quickly. Splatter, splatter, it started to rain. The sky was dark and the playground was dark too. It was a blackout. “NEXO, I’m scared! Help me!” “Don’t worry. I have everything under control. I’m transforming into a power generator!” As NEXO the Power Generator joined forces with other fuel cell electric vehicles, lights began to turn on again one by one. The rides at the playground began to move again. The dark sky lit up again thanks to drones flown by NEXO and other vehicles. I’m getting sleepy. It’s time to go home. At night, NEXO keeps me snug and warm. NEXO puts my seat back even before I request it, switches off the lights, and darkens the windows. It also turns on the music I listen to at bedtime. The inside of NEXO becomes a cozy bedroom. “I’ll wake you when we arrive. Sleep tight!” “Thank you, NEXO.” “Jino, wake up! Mommy’s here!” “Where is my NEXO?” “You must have had a dream. You fell asleep again while drawing a car.” “Mom…….” “Sweetheart, what’s wrong? Didn’t you have a nice nap?” “I’m sad because NEXO from my dream is gone.” “I brought you a surprise. Let’s go outside?” An awesome car, which looked very similar to the one I saw in my dream, was outside. My mouth dropped open in surprise. “This is NEXO, and Mommy developed it. NEXO runs on electricity generated by hydrogen and oxygen.” “Wow, NEXO is real?” “Mom, do you know how smart NEXO was in my dream? It drove itself and picked me up after school. It helped me with my homework and let me play games with my friend inside it.” “Is that so? Mommy is working very hard so the NEXO in your dream will soon be a reality.” “Really?” After I listened to Mom’s story, I could complete my drawing of NEXO. “Tell me more about NEXO you made?” “NEXO keeps the sky blue and lets out clean water. It is the best eco-friendly car ever.” “The more that people drive it, the less polluted our planet will become. It will stop global warming, too, right?” “That is right!” “Wow, NEXO is the protector of our planet!” “Let’s have a party. I made a cake to celebrate NEXO’s birthday!” “Yippee! A cake! Dad, you are the best!” Actually, I like Dad’s food more than Mom’s. Shhhhh! Don’t tell Mom. “Shall we go for a drive?” “Cool! Let’s go, NEXO!” We got into NEXO and drove off down the road. The stars shined brightly above us. This is the story of a very special and beautiful day when our family first met NEXO, the car of a brighter future.