It’s time
to weigh in on the latest fantasy that is hyping the auto industry.
Electric
cars will have a limited market, because they have a limited range. They may be
practical as a second car for commuting to work, if work isn’t far and you can
recharge it in your garage every night.
Self-driving
cars will cost an extra $100,000, because of all the sensors and computers that
will be stuffed into them. Most people won’t buy one because of price.
Self-driving
technology will probably fail to take hold for 16 wheel trucks, because of cost
and would require a computerized, robotic receiving facility that will also
cost a lot. This could work if companies build one receiving facility per city
and had human drivers deliver to stores from that warehouse. I have no solution
to how driverless trucks buy fuel at the truck stops or know to pull in to the
weigh stations. The cost of maintaining driverless trucks needs to be carefully
determined. These trucks need to be hijack-proof and hack-proof. I predict lots of driverless truck accidents
on our highways. Trains could try self-driving technology to avoid the frequent
crashes they have with live human drivers, but again, cost is the key. If
companies do this, they will need to eliminate the risks.
Norb
Leahy, Dunwoody GA Tea Party Leader
Good points. I wouldn't trust driverless vehicles anyway; don't we all know that, no matter how fabulous electronic technology seems at first (case in point the D.C. Metrorail system), in a few years it starts falling apart! I could see a market for driver-optional vehicles where long-distance drivers could program trucks to steer themselves down the highway while the drivers take a nap, stretch, or meal break, but I'd still be very very concerned about risks as well as initial costs.
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