Quote:
Originally Posted by Mikemike
Electric vehicles are a different topic than autonomous vehicles, so leaving that aside,
Autonomous shared vehicles would require MORE energy than standard driven vehicles, even assuming the same number of miles travelled (and as noted earlier, that would most likely increase).
Why?
Because after dropping you off at work that shared car will drive all the way back out to the residential neighbourhoods for a new fare, instead of waiting for you and not burning fuel or draining the batteries.
It won't be double because there are some reverse trips, but generally, instead of your commute being responsible for the energy to move a 3000lb steel box from home to work, your trip is also responsible for the energy required to get it back where it's needed.
Like a cabby cruising for fares.
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If there are 1/6 the number of cars on the road, the energy required to manufacture them is a lot lower. In a fully autonomous network where accidents are reduced to near zero, the weight of the vehicle can be greatly reduced. That will save a significant amount of energy. And as you said, some return trips won't be wasted.