In-car technology has also helped make drivers aware of such costs: new cars often have dashboard dials showing how many miles to a gallon the vehicle is achieving at its current speed.
Electric car makers have struggled with financing and profitability given the costs of developing newtechnology and difficulty achieving economies of scale.
Unsurprisingly, the potential blending of car and computer technology has strong support in Silicon Valley, which senses a lucrative new market just around the corner.