11 futuristic vehicles that could fundamentally transform how we travel

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Transportation is undergoing one of the biggest transformations in history.

From self-driving cars to the Hyperloop, companies are investing in new ways for humans to get from point A to point B more efficiently.

Here's a look at some of the vehicles and transport systems that are being developed that could dramatically change how we travel on Earth and, possibly, even to other planets.

Electric cars are already here and are helping make the world greener.

Electric cars are going mainstream. Numerous major automakers plan to roll out a fully electric, long-range car by the end of the decade.

Tesla, of course, already offers the Model S and Model X. And on July 28 the company will begin delivery of its Model 3, the company's first mass-market electric car.

General Motors also began deliveries of its long-range electric car, the Chevy Bolt, last year.

Self-driving cars could help save lives and time.

Self-driving cars are quickly becoming a reality.

Most major automakers aim to have a car on the market with an advanced semiautonomous system by 2020. And many of these car companies expect to have fully autonomous cars ready within the decade.

Self-driving cars are expected to bring some big advantages, especially when it comes to safety.

In fact, it's predicted that driverless-car adoption could help save thousands of lives annually.

According to a study by the Eno Centre for Transportation, if about 90% of cars on American roads were autonomous, the number of accidents would fall from 6 million a year to 1.3 million, and deaths would fall from 33,000 to 11,300.

Besides safety, autonomous vehicles are also expected to give people more free time, reduce carbon emissions, and help those who do not have the ability to drive — like elderly people — become more mobile.

Flying cars could make getting out of a traffic jam a cinch.

Flying cars may still be in their infancy, but they are gaining momentum.

Terrafugia, a flying-car startup, is aiming to have its newest flying vehicle, called the TF-X, flying by 2025. The TF-X will take off, fly, and land autonomously. The company also claims it will be a plug-in hybrid with a range of 500 miles.

Toyota is also interested in building a flying car.

The company has invested $386,000 in Cartivator, which is startup developing a car that can drive and fly. The startup's car, dubbed Sky Drive, is expected to take its first test flight in 2019.

These vehicles could open up an entirely new way for consumers to get around on a daily basis. Just think, if traffic is bad, you could opt to fly instead.

See the rest of the story at Business Insider