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The Future of Ground Transportation

Autonomous Electric Vehicles

Autonomous Electric Vehicles

It's my belief that one of the game changers in the next decade will be Autonomous (driverless) Electric Vehicles (AEV) controlled by Uber using artificial intelligence (AI). It's my thought that this could be a major factor in fighting global warming! The advantages are so obvious that everyone should be jumping up and down with joy. Just think, no more auto insurance payments, no more yearly registration with emissions check, no more buying gas and getting oil change, lube etc., no more requirement for parking my car at home when not in use. I can convert my carport into an entertainment room. No more need for parking my car anywhere and incurring parking fee's. Death caused by auto accidents will be virtually eliminated (the #1 reason for AEV). In 2016 37,461 people were killed in the US due to auto accidents.


The current Tesla Model S can go from 0-60mph in 2.5 seconds and travel 335 miles on a charge. In 2020 it is estimated that the cost of the battery will be much reduced and the distance traveled on a charge will be 1,000 miles. I will no longer feel guilty owning a gas guzzler and emitting all those bad things thru the tailpipe. Cobb's air quality index will probably go from a 'D' to an 'A'. We will no longer be such a large contributor to global warming. I will definitely not need parking. The total requirements for parking will be vastly diminished! We can convert parking lots into neighborhood parks! Just think instead of our cars making one trip per day the AEV's will continue to make trips 24 hour/day. Assuming 1/2 hour / trip that means 48 less cars on the road. If Uber rideshare program is as good as expected that COULD be multiplied by 5 (the current seating in a Tesla S). I just can't wait to get rid of my car.

The first step to employ AEV's is to develop an implementation plan. Cobb should be planning conversion of it's fleet of vehicles to AEV right now. One of the first steps is to ensure adequate charging stations. Believe that wireless charging is the way to go. Just park the car in a parking space with wireless parking and that's it. No need to plug in a cable. An early step is to determine the number of AEV's required to accommodate Cobb's traffic. This includes the make, model and quantity of each selected. Early also should be the development of a Uber AEV selection and allocation process. This process should be accomplished by using AI. Before selecting a AEV the process should analyze current road conditions obtained probably by sensors. I don't want to be specific about how to determine road conditions because AI is to be smarter than humans. A Uber rideshare program will also be employed with any modifications made by AI.

It is my hope that all road requirements for Cobb's AEV use will be accomplished by 2021. Our fleet of AEV's should be complete or nearly so by 2025. The fleet can be owned by any entity capable of doing so. I used Cobb as a simple solution.

Many problems with AEV are averted by having a single or possibly a limited number of owners of the fleet. No individual will own a vehicle. Because vehicles will not be owned by individuals and accidents will be virtually eliminated, insurance will probably not be required. This is a brief attempt to delve into an area with room for much more discussion so will not continue for now.

As already mentioned Tesla is scheduled to have a new model S by 2020, Ford is to announce their AEV by 2021 and various auto makers have and will continue to improve on their AEV's. I wish them all good luck and Godspeed

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