This discussion is technically off-topic for the EVDL, but it seems to strike a chord every time it comes up. At least this time it's in connection with an EV, the Chevrolet Bolt (or is it now BoltEV?).
At least here in the US, people barely tolerate human error. That's why we have so many lawsuits. They don't accept machine error any better -- maybe less well. They blame the manufacturer or software author for foul-ups, and who can blame them? In day to day conversations I already find that this is what the average person now knows and says about Tesla: that their autopilot killed a driver. That's a pretty dubious distinction for Tesla to have, no? Now imagine how parents -- and the media -- will react the first time a SDV accident kills a kid or two. Proably well-designed SDVs will have a better accident record than normal vehicles. That won't make any difference to Americans, though. It's my observation that Americans are, by and large, not especially rational. They're ruled by their emotions. Advertising and politics prove that every day. That regrettable orientation continues to spread round the world. So not only American consumers, but probably those in most other nations, will reject SDVs unless they're 100% perfect, completely accident-free, or at least fatality-free. Economically, SDVs will never be viable in the US unless the automakers manage to convince either congress or state legislatures to give them blanket immunity from liability. Otherwise the cost of defending themselves against the inevitable lawsuits from the families of their victims will make it impossible for them to make a profit on SDVs. Even if they do get such legislation passed, the bad PR from accidents (which you KNOW will be MUCH more widely reported than conventional vehicle accidents) will choke off sales. IMO, SDVs are a dead end. Better we should take all the money going into SDV research and apply it to expanding light rail service. Now THAT'S a safe and proven "self-driving vehicle" experience. David Roden - Akron, Ohio, USA EVDL Administrator = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = EVDL Information: http://www.evdl.org/help/ = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = Note: mail sent to "evpost" and "etpost" addresses will not reach me. To send a private message, please obtain my email address from the webpage http://www.evdl.org/help/ . = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = _______________________________________________ UNSUBSCRIBE: http://www.evdl.org/help/index.html#usub http://lists.evdl.org/listinfo.cgi/ev-evdl.org Read EVAngel's EV News at http://evdl.org/evln/ Please discuss EV drag racing at NEDRA (http://groups.yahoo.com/group/NEDRA)
