Sustainability of Self-Driving Cars
- 3 days ago
- 2 min read
The sustainability of the transportation sector is bright, especially when considering the proliferation of self-driving vehicles. Although the transition and electrification will take time, resource use to satisfy personal and commercial vehicle transport should plummet.
Automated driving will completely reshape the vehicles themselves as driver input is no longer needed. Steering wheels, shifters, and even pedals will become obsolete, reducing resource needs in production. We can expect a complete redesign of interiors when there is no need for everyone to face forward – a total reimagination of the passenger experience is arriving.
The physical infrastructure will also change when vehicles can see and communicate with each other. Fewer lanes, stoppages, and accidents will substantially reduce environmental impacts. Three vehicles in a line will take off from a green light at the same time and speed, as opposed to today’s staggered procedure. This type of eco-driving can cut GHG emissions by as much as 20%. With closer vehicles, lanes can be eliminated, and new highways and roads will require less material inputs.
We can also consider that self-driving EVs will be able to manage the battery in a more efficient manner. From optimized acceleration, to regular use of cruise control, the electricity usage per mile will fall and enable wider adoption of EVs.
We should also consider the human aspects. More than a million people die each year in vehicle accidents. Analysis shows that the severity of the average accident of self-driving vehicles is lower than manually driven vehicles. Populations who can’t drive manually will now be able to transport themselves and enjoy a higher quality of life. Consider the elderly, the blind, and people with limbs that require substantial vehicle modifications to drive. The standard of living and economic improvements for these populations will be substantial.
Trends are moving in the direction of electrification and automated transport, but this change comes with volatility in the transition speed. Variation in government support through time and administrations causes market uncertainty that halts new business moves and restricts progress at the cutting edge. Shifting geopolitical circumstances disrupt supply chains causing price shocks and a shift to deglobalization that causes some elevation of costs resulting from smaller pools of suppliers. Ultimately, humanity’s desire for effortless movement by vehicles without environmental impact is likely be satisfied.
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