Self-driving cars happen to be an idea that has yet to take off fully for the very simple reason that it has not been fully tested out just yet – after all, there are still niggling issues to work out, such as close calls on the road. Well, if it were to be successful, self-driving robot taxis might be part of the solution to a global problem – that of global warming.
Scientists have already stepped forward to say that such use of robotic vehicles might very well help reduce the amount of heat-trapping emissions, assuming that they function as taxis, of course. Studies have shown that in the future, the use of autonomous or self-driving electric taxis in 2030 might be able to emit up to 94% less emissions per mile as opposed to a standard gasoline vehicle of today, according to researchers over at the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory. Most of the savings would happen due to the taxi being of the correct size for the trip.
Author Jeffrey Greenblatt mentioned, “Most trips in the U.S. are taken singly, meaning one- or two-seat cars would satisfy most trips.” I guess all of these would sound nice and dandy in theory, but will we ever arrive at such a day in the future? After, do remember that consistent strides are being made in the realm of the standard gasoline vehicles to reduce their emissions, too, and who knows where those will arrive in 2030? Only time will be able to tell, but this is still encouraging news.
Filed in . Read more about Taxi. Source: news.nationalgeographic