10 Times Science Fiction Predicted the Future of Transportation

What separates good science fiction from bad science fiction is inventiveness and creativity. The best stories are ones that bring readers into fantastic worlds that don't exist and convince them that they can. Real-world creators and inventors are often inspired by sci-fi to do the impossible—to build the worlds that others have only dreamt of. WeBuyAnyCar.com created an infographic that includes 10 examples of how transportation technology has come to imitate, or be inspired by, science fiction of the past.

The infographic pairs futuristic transportation technology from books and films written over the past 130 years with technology that either exists in the present day or will exist in the near future. Beginning in 1888 with Michel Verne's short story, Un Express de L'Avenir (An Express of the Future), the chart compares it to Tesla inventor Elon Musk's hyperloop system, which is expected to have a working prototype by the end of this year.

Other technologies listed include electric cars, jet packs, and hovercrafts. Sadly, teleportation and street-legal flying cars are still stuck on the drawing board, but you still might be able to find a gift for a sci-fi enthusiast that harnesses the same type of innovation.

This article was originally published in 2016 and has been updated for 2022.