Autonomous Vehicles, LEAF and others...

[GRA]

Via GCC:

LCA study finds connected and automated vehicle subsystems could enable net reduction in vehicle energy use and GHGs by up to 9%

http://www.greencarcongress.com/2018/02/20180216-lca.html

Researchers at the University of Michigan and Ford Motor Company have found that using a Level 4 connected and automated vehicle (CAV) subsystem could increase vehicle primary energy use and GHG emissions by 3–20% due to increases in power consumption, weight, drag, and data transmission.

However, when potential operational effects of CAVs are included (such as eco-driving, platooning, and intersection connectivity), the net result is up to a 9% reduction in energy and GHG emissions in the base case. Their study is published in the ACS journal Environmental Science & Technology.

The major factors that will determine CAV energy outcomes include the following: eco-driving, platooning, lightweighting, and rightsizing, reduced driving to locate parking, ride sharing, congestion mitigation, higher travel demand due to reduced travel cost, increased travel by underserved populations, and faster highway speeds. When these factors are combined in a travel demand and efficiency framework with a 100% CAV adoption scenario, the resulting impact ranges from a 60% reduction in energy consumption up to a 200% increase. Integrating these results with EIA reference case projections for the transportation sector produces light duty vehicle energy consumption estimates between 7,000 and 18,000 trillion Btu in 2050 compared to 16,000 trillion Btu in 2016.

The existing literature on CAV energy implications … focuses primarily on the operational impact. However, little is known about the full life cycle implications of CAV deployment. Previous studies have omitted the potential vehicle production life cycle impacts with the rationale that they are smaller in magnitude when compared to the travel related energy consumption, but no work has been done to date to examine this assumption.

To fill the gap, this study provides a life cycle assessment (LCA) of CAV sensing and computing subsystems integrated into both internal combustion engine vehicle (ICEV) and battery electric vehicle (BEV) platforms. The LCA quantifies the burdens from the production and use of Level 4 CAV subsystems applied to the vehicle platforms.

—Gawron et al. . . .

The team modeled its BEV platform ias the 2015 Ford Focus Electric and the ICEV platform as the 2015 Ford Focus. The small, medium, and large CAV subsystems were based on the configurations in use on the Tesla Model S, Ford Fusion (AV test vehicles), and Waymo’s Chrysler Pacifica, respectively.

The life cycle phases included in the study were materials production, manufacturing and assembly, use, and end of life management. Four factors needed to be considered for the use-phase analysis, the team noted:

The increased vehicle energy consumption due to the added electricity demand.

The increased fuel consumption due to the weight of the CAV subsystem.

Increased aerodynamic drag due to the use of exterior mounted components.

The burdens associated with map data transmission over wireless networks. . . .

[GRA]

X-post via GCC:

Study finds drone-based delivery could reduce GHG emissions and energy use in the transportation sector, if deployed sensibly

http://www.greencarcongress.com/2018/02/20180216-llnl.html

[GRA]

Via GCC:

Autonomous vehicle testing beginning at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar

http://www.greencarcongress.com/2018/02/20180223-miramar.html

Federal, state and local government stakeholders along with industry representatives met to discuss regional and Marine Corps autonomous vehicle proving grounds, to watch autonomous vehicles begin testing, and to tour the installation at Marine Corps Air Station (MCAS) Miramar (located near San Diego) earlier this week.

The representatives came from the San Diego Association of Governments, California Department of Motor Vehicles, California Department of Transportation, California Energy Commission, California Highway Patrol, Space and Naval Warfare Systems Center Pacific (SSCPAC), Qualcomm Technologies, Inc., and MCAS Miramar. . . .

Two routes on the air station, a “rural” and “urban” route, will provide opportunities for stakeholders to initiate autonomous vehicle testing and development projects. The rural route is located on East Miramar where autonomous vehicle technology testing began early February 2018.

The second project, born of a partnership between the Marine Corps and the state, is planned for later this year. It will pilot the use of autonomous vehicles including electric, autonomous vehicles that are also vehicle-to-grid (V2G) capable. This program will assess the feasibility of autonomous vehicles as a means of transportation for official and personal use on the air station and the effectiveness of V2G technology.

Two autonomous, electric 15-passenger vans will follow the preprogrammed, “urban” route, which will cover the installation’s most frequented locations in the morning, afternoon and evening. When not operating on the preprogrammed schedule, the two vans will be available on-demand along the route.

In addition to testing autonomous driving technology, the vans will be V2G capable, which means they can connect to the air station’s microgrid via a bi-directional electric-vehicle charging station. . . .

[RegGuheert]

Apparently Hyundai's "level 4" autonomous Nexo isn't:

An autonomous prototype of Hyundai's fuel cell powered Nexo crossover was quickly approaching a bustling pedestrian crossing near an entrance to the Winter Olympics here on Feb. 21. Hyundai was demonstrating its Level 4 autonomous vehicle technology, which it plans to commercialize in certain cities by 2021.

I was in the back seat, anticipating how the robotic Nexo would react. The system had been driving conservatively up to that point of the brief demo, so I figured the Nexo would recognize the pedestrians who were being picked up by its sensors and decelerate to a gradual stop.

But that's not what happened.

The Nexo continued forward at deliberate pace while yellow lights flickered above the crosswalk. It showed no signs of stopping.

Then, with the crosswalk just 10 or so feet ahead of us, the engineer in the driver's seat hit the brakes himself to avert potential calamity.

[GRA]

Apparently Hyundai's "level 4" autonomous Nexo isn't:

An autonomous prototype of Hyundai's fuel cell powered Nexo crossover was quickly approaching a bustling pedestrian crossing near an entrance to the Winter Olympics here on Feb. 21. Hyundai was demonstrating its Level 4 autonomous vehicle technology, which it plans to commercialize in certain cities by 2021.

I was in the back seat, anticipating how the robotic Nexo would react. The system had been driving conservatively up to that point of the brief demo, so I figured the Nexo would recognize the pedestrians who were being picked up by its sensors and decelerate to a gradual stop.

But that's not what happened.

The Nexo continued forward at deliberate pace while yellow lights flickered above the crosswalk. It showed no signs of stopping.

Then, with the crosswalk just 10 or so feet ahead of us, the engineer in the driver's seat hit the brakes himself to avert potential calamity.

Not yet, anyway, but does seem to be getting there. Handling the roundabout by itself is pretty impressive - many Americans have trouble with that, owing to unfamiliarity.

[edatoakrun]

Quite modest scale initial AV taxi test by Nissan:

Take that, Uber: Nissan starts live tests of its autonomous taxi

...Today in Yokohama, Nissan started a pilot with self-driving Leaf cars used as autonomous taxis. Partnering with e-commerce company DeNA, Nissan will start its “Easy Ride” service in Yokohama on March 5th, which puts it, according to Reuters, “among the first major automakers anywhere to test ride-hailing software developed in-house, using its own fleet of self-driving electric cars.”

The test has simple beginnings. Cars will self-drive a 4.5 kilometer (2.8 miles) route down the main drag of Yokohama’s Minatomirai district, with the city’s scenic Red Brick Warehouse on one end, and Nissan’s HQ conveniently at the other. Devoid of the narrow alleys Japan is known for, it is a “relatively simple route,” admitted Hiroshi Nakajima, head of DeNA’s automotive business unit. Taking place from “March 5th to March 18th, involving 300 people of the general public,” as Nissan’s CEO Hiroto Saikawa said today, the test will be short, and limited in scope...

https://dailykanban.com/2018/02/take-ub ... mous-taxi/

[DanCar]

Table added with vehicles with lane centering tech. Feel free to improve.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lane_cent ... ing_assist

[GRA]

Via sfgate, the San Francisco Chronicle's web portal:

Look, ma, no driver! Cars without humans coming to California soon

https://www.sfchronicle.com/news/article/Look-ma-no-driver-Cars-without-humans-coming-12704455.php?cmpid=gsa-sfgate-result

Robot cars without drivers could be on California streets by early spring. Long-awaited state regulations for autonomous cars without human drivers may be approved Monday by a legal compliance agency, according to the state Department of Motor Vehicles, which submitted the rules to the Office of Administrative Law on Jan. 11. A thumbs-up would open a 30-day public notice period, during which companies can apply for permits to test the cars. California could begin issuing such permits April 2, according to spokeswoman Jessica Gonzalez.

“I think we’ll definitely see some companies applying for driverless testing permits right away,” she said. “Manufacturers will want to be the first ones.”

California is a hotbed for robot-car development, with 50 companies testing 387 autonomous vehicles. They all are required to have a backup driver ready to take the wheel on public roads. . . .

Companies must jump through several hoops to get an OK for driverless testing, including certifying that the cars are ready. Robot cars must have a communication link to remote operators who can steer them if they encounter problems. Their owners must show a plan to train those operators. Car makers could contract out the remote-operator function to third parties, such as Mountain View’s Phantom Auto, which is developing remote-control centers for robot cars and said it has several interested customers. . . .

[GRA]

Via ABG, could have put this in several threads:

Watch Google co-founder's Kitty Hawk Cora electric aircraft in flight
Has a range of 62 miles on a charge, will be tested in New Zealand

https://www.autoblog.com/2018/03/13/kitty-hawk-cora-electric-flying-taxi/

2 pax. VTOL electric AV air taxi.

[cwerdna]

Uber Halts Autonomous-Car Testing After Fatal Arizona Crash
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles ... in-arizona

Uber halts self-driving tests after pedestrian killed in Arizona
A woman was killed early Monday morning in Tempe
https://www.theverge.com/2018/3/19/1713 ... pe-arizona