What are Autonomous Electric Vehicles?

Autonomous electric vehicles(A-EVs) are fundamentally self-driving EVs. These vehicles generally employ sensors and computer vision to navigate. A-EVs are capable of driving where traditional cars and human drivers do.

A-EVs use AI, next-generation batteries, and other Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) technologies that have the potential to transport passengers more efficiently. This is aimed to be accomplished without the need for drivers or fossil-fuel-driven internal combustion engines (ICEs). Considering the advantages of cleaner and quicker transport, A-EVs could potentially accelerate much-needed greenhouse gas emissions reductions in the Automotive sector.

Tesla, the famous electric car company founded by Elon Musk, is currently developing autonomous vehicles which can possibly steer toward highway entrances and exists. While Tesla's self-driving cars are innovative, they are not fully autonomous and usually need human oversight during the operative phase. Traditional car manufacturers have also started working on electric self-driving vehicles and plan to offer advanced driver-assist features by 2025.

The Robotics Institute at the Carnegie Mellon School of Computer Science consists of researchers who study and develop autonomous and semi-autonomous technology. Ever since 1984, the CMU Navigation Lab (Navlab) has been working on computer-controlled vehicles and assisted driving technologies.

Navlab 11, a 2000 Jeep Wrangler, is the most recent vehicle built by the Navlab team. It has a variety of sensors to detect objects in close view and at long range.

Autonomous vs. Automated vs. Self-Driving: What’s the difference?

The Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) uses the term automated instead of autonomous.

Why is this? It is because the word autonomy has implications beyond the general working aspects. An autonomous car is generally able to make its own choices and is self-aware.

For experimental purposes, let us assume that you say “drive me to work” but the car decides to take you to the mall instead. A fully automated car, however, would follow orders first and then drive by itself.

The term self-driving is often coined instead of autonomous. However, there is a very slight difference. A self-driving car can drive itself in most circumstances, but a human passenger must always be present for smooth operation.

What are the Benefits of Autonomous Electric Vehicles?

• Reduced Greenhouse Effect – These EVs use AI-powered, the next breed of battery technology. These battery-powered, energy-efficient vehicles offer cleaner and quicker transportation with the added possibility of reducing overall greenhouse gas emissions.
  
  
• Safety conditions- Human error has been cited as the cause of 94% of serious collisions. Autonomous vehicles can theoretically remove human error during driving, which has the potential to protect other motorists, passengers, bicyclists, and pedestrians.
  
  
• Economic and Societal Benefits – The cost of human error can be high. A 2010 survey found that vehicle crashes have resulted in billion-dollar losses that range from lost work productivity to quality of life, and worse, loss of life. Limiting or eliminating errors could reduce overall costs.
  
  
• Reduced Vehicle Emissions – Workers spend many hours per week commuting on heavily congested roads. Autonomous electric vehicles will lessen vehicle emissions and fuel costs typically associated with traveling.
  
  
• Mobility Improvements – Autonomous electric vehicles have the potential to improve mobility for millions of senior citizens. A-VEs could help give disabled drivers a chance to travel without hindrance.

The Way Forward

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