I’m excited to see that electrical automobiles are getting increasingly consideration currently. President-Elect Biden is making them a political precedence (hyperlink right here), they proceed to be an space of strategic focus for automakers (see examples right here and right here), and state coverage makers are turning their consideration to them as nicely (see right here). Seemingly, we’re going to see a significant uptick in electrical automobile manufacturing, gross sales and utilization, for each particular person and industrial markets.
I’d prefer to imagine {that a} vital enhance in electrical automobile curiosity and adoption is because of a rising acknowledgement of local weather change and the injury we’re inflicting on the environment on daily basis. Huge climate occasions, poor air high quality, and unpredictable temperature swings have created a way of urgency for coverage makers, companies, and most of the people to shift away from fossil fuels.
So what does this imply for autonomous automobiles? We all know that shared driverless automobiles have the potential to profit the setting as nicely – via decreased congestion and extra environment friendly driving routes. I’m questioning if this impetus or one other comparable set off – like site visitors security – will trigger the same shift in give attention to driverless automobiles. What is going to it take to get the general public and policymakers on board?
- Possibly our post-Coronavirus world might be so car-focused and have a lot congestion that shared driverless automobiles will grow to be a giant precedence? I want that was the case, however I’d be stunned…
- Possibly highway security will obtain heightened consideration as a result of larger utilization of bikes and scooters inflicting extra security incidents? I additionally want that was the case, however I’d be equally stunned…
- Possibly our post-Coronavirus world will cut back and even remove conventional in-person purchasing, which can considerably enhance the world’s bundle supply necessities? I believe we could have discovered our set off!
As grocery shops, retail shops, and pharmacies see much less and fewer foot site visitors, our supply automobiles have gotten busier and busier. Decreasing the labor prices and congestion related to these supply automobiles will doubtless be an enormous “driver” (pun supposed!) for change. I’m hopeful that items motion necessities will enable us to see the technological advances and supportive coverage modifications that can advance the driverless expertise in the identical manner that the electrical automobile expertise is being accelerated at this time.
Some other triggers I’m not pondering of?
