> In 20 years, most cars (electric or not) will probably be self-driving ones owned and controlled by a centralized ride-sharing service

This is not true. Just to give an example, how do you plan to implement that "centralized ride-sharing service" in a city like Cairo (current population 10+ million)? Sometimes HN users need to get out of their bubble.

Or in a city like Huntsville, AL, with a population of 200,000 and a surprising number of workers who commute from 40 or more miles away?

> how do you plan to implement that "centralized ride-sharing service" in a city like Cairo (current population 10+ million)

https://www.uber.com/cities/cairo

I agree, minus the ride-sharing part, which will have a very minor share, in numbers compared to taxis and similar. Car is still a necessity in the eyes of an average (first world) human and our individuality will not let us share them.

> Car is still a necessity in the eyes of an average (first world) human and our individuality will not let us share them.

Individuality and fear of foreigners sure is a strong force. However so is saving money. There is a reason some people still take the bus, even when they could have taken a taxi.

How does that relate to self driving cars?

If you can save 75% of trip costs, by sharing it with 3 other people, a lot of people will.

I would imagine that gas stations of the future will have the capability to fuel/charge cars without drivers present via some kind of pre-paid account. After you get home from work, push a button and the car drives itself to the nearest/cheapest station and a pump/cable extends. When full it drives itself back home.

Perhaps, but this does not help one own an electric car in the near term.

This comment, combined with your username, just made me laugh out loud.