When Do Robocars Become Cheaper Than Standard Cars?

Hallie Siegel writes: With all the extra sensors and technology that have to go into autonomous cars, you might expect them to cost more. After all, autonomous features like park assist and auto lane changing are added-value components that you pay extra for on current vehicles. But autonomous car expert Brad Templeton thinks it could be that the overall cost of autonomous vehicles per mile driven will lower than traditional cars. Not only because features of traditional cars, like dashboards and steering columns, will not be necessary in robocars, but also because autonomous cars are more likely to be shared and constantly in use, rather than sitting in your driveway 90% of the time.

Comments

Re:i haven't bought a car in a while...

[Firethorn]

If you have a stroke or lose your peripheral vision perhaps you shouldn't be driving at all.

He mentioned that with: "but the real promise of automated vehicles is that it will allow people that cannot (or should not, a much large category) drive 'manually' have access to individual transportation."

Right now, if you suffer from a condition that renders you unable to drive, it can be a massive expense and inconvenience to you. Suddenly you're dependent upon family to drive you everywhere, or lacking that public transportation(and it's limitations) or expensive taxies.

We also have the problem of the damage new drivers tend to cause during the learning experiences, and some never seem to learn. Somebody with a tendency to tap bumpers might find 'park assist' handy.

Personally, I like the idea of my vehicle dropping me off at the door of wherever I'm going, then going off and parking, then picking me up at the door, especially when I'm loaded down with groceries.