Currently, it looks like individuals are spending a number of time pondering what society shall be like post-Coronavirus. Whereas everyone seems to be craving going again to the world we knew, we’re additionally acknowledging that the world won’t ever be the identical. I respect that there have been many articles (like this one and this one) that current a few of the societal shifts that might occur because of this pandemic and I figured I’d take it a step farther and see what it’d imply within the driverless business. Listed below are a few of the massive traits (related to driverless autos) that I’m seeing:
- Automobile gross sales are shifting to a web-based market (hyperlink right here);
- Searching for groceries, garments, and all the things else is massively shifting on-line, which is lowering our particular person automobile possession, however placing heavy reliance on items supply (hyperlink right here);
- Since workplaces are encouraging working remotely, purchasing has largely shifted on-line, and most public locations are closed, individuals are driving a lot much less (hyperlink right here);
- Persons are scared to journey public transit and take shared rides as a result of shut proximity to others (link right here);
Whereas many of those modifications are out of necessity immediately, it’s very potential that they may instill long-term change. So what does this imply for driverless autos? It’s clear individuals are looking forward to the driverless supply of products, which is a good alternative for constructing client acceptance for driverless autos, generally. And this huge discount in car miles traveled (VMT) is reminding folks of a cleaner, safer world – might this create longer-term impacts? Higher environmental insurance policies? However, this doesn’t bode effectively for shared, driverless rides – although I’m hopeful this isn’t a long-term impression.
I hope our society may be considerate about how we re-open our society…not simply with reference to the sharing of germs, however with our insurance policies, our companies, and our particular person practices. Let’s take into consideration the world we would like and change into proactively attempt to make it occur. Shared, electrical, driverless autos – how can we get there? Encourage shared rides, incentivize electrical car utilization, create supportive driverless laws, discourage single occupancy car utilization (and car possession, generally), and proceed to display and talk driverless car success tales. Whereas the know-how continues to be superior, these are all necessary foundational parts.
