Electric vehicle advances carry us into the new year

Mark Glover’s AutoGlo car reviews can be seen here and in the Cruisin’ News, "Oregon, Nevada and California's classic auto news & marketplace."

Sacramento, California -- As we head down the road into another new year, change is in the air.  And that air is electric-charged.

The electric future of the automotive industry is everywhere, especially here in California. And there's plenty more to come.

What I'm experiencing now on my test drives is vastly different than what I experienced less than a decade ago.

New hybrid and electric vehicles are showing up on dealer lots -- and in my driveway -- in unprecedented numbers.  And the infrastructure to charge up those EVs is growing at a rapid rate.

I'll confess that this once-nervous electric vehicle driver has, over time, become entirely comfortable with the technology and the related infrastructure.  If I can adjust, well, I'm betting that most others will be fine as well.

The electric rush has worked its way into every crevice of automotive thought.  The Motor Trend magazine SUV of the Year -- the 2023 Inoiq 5 -- is an electric.  Remember when seeing an electric vehicle on the road was a rarity that prompted your heart to race?  No longer does that happen.

And how many parking lots did you pull into in 2022 and find numerous EVs lined up and taking on juice at charging stations? A fair number, I'd bet.

Rest assured, the electric wave will continue in 2023, big-time. The domestic and foreign pipeline is stuffed with new contenders, and some mind-blowing technology to boot.  Is it a good time to be alive and experience the incredible advancements in motor vehicle manufacturing?

You bet it is.  Hang on for a thrilling ride in 2023.

On the auto racing front, here are some things to watch for in three major series:

+ IndyCar: Helio Castroneves will seek a record-setting fifth Indy 500 win in May. He's one of four who have won the famous race four times, and the only one who remains active.

+ NASCAR: An army of young newcomers has come into the top tier of the stock car series, replacing the Jeff Gordons, Jimmie Johnnsons and others.  Expect a young gun to win the Cup Series next year, but whoever that is will have to take down former young gun Joey Logano, now a seasoned veteran with two NASCAR Cup Series championships under his belt.

+ Formula One: Here's hoping other teams -- backed by their many millions of dollars -- can somehow find a way to keep two-time F1 series champ Max Verstappen from winning virtually all the races. I crave more competition in this tech-laden series.

Given all this, I look forward to a year of exciting changes and competitive races. And my wish for you in 2023 is never changing: be safe, be happy, motor easy.