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 effectively (see right here). Seemingly, we’re going to see a significant uptick in electrical car manufacturing, gross sales and utilization, for each particular person and business markets.

I’d prefer to imagine {that a} important improve in electrical car curiosity and adoption is because of a rising acknowledgement of local weather change and the injury we’re inflicting on our surroundings day-after-day. Large 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 surroundings as effectively – 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 an identical shift in concentrate on driverless automobiles. What’s going to it take to get the general public and policymakers on board?

• Perhaps our post-Coronavirus world can be so car-focused and have a lot congestion that shared driverless automobiles will turn into an enormous precedence? I want that was the case, however I’d be shocked…
• Perhaps 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 shocked…
• Perhaps our post-Coronavirus world will cut back and even eradicate conventional in-person procuring, which is able to considerably improve the world’s package deal supply necessities? I believe we might 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. Lowering the labor prices and congestion related to these supply automobiles will doubtless be an enormous “driver” (pun meant!) 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 car expertise is being accelerated at present.

Some other triggers I’m not considering of?