No driver’s licence required

This story first appeared in the March issue of EVtalk – CLICK HERE to download the magazine FREE

Prepare for a future where you no longer need to drive – or even have a driver’s licence.

Autonomous or automated vehicles (AVs) are poised to revolutionise not only transportation but the way people live and work.

That’s according to the KPMG 2018 Autonomous Vehicles Readiness Index (AVRI).

It ranks New Zealand ninth out of 20 countries in a report on the state of AV preparation.

The AVRI evaluates the preparedness of 20 countries and highlights best practice to help countries accelerate AV adoption. Evaluations are based on policy and legislation, technology and innovation, infrastructure and consumer acceptance.

New Zealand is second only to Singapore on policy and legislation, with high scores for AV regulation. There is no specific legal requirements for cars to contain drivers here and our Government is generally supportive of the technology, the report notes.

We also have a strong reputation as a technology test-bed and consumers that are relatively accepting of new technologies.

“Low-cost mobility provided by AVs will bring benefits in productivity, income and quality of life,” KPMG Deal Advisory director Istvan Csorogi says.

“But it will also bring major challenges, for example in ensuring that AVs are safe and our roads and cities are built with AVs in mind.”
The report introduction notes the pace of AV development is “breath-taking”.

“A year ago, some would have argued that they would never become a reality. But now, AVs are being piloted in a number of countries and are running on public roads.
“The question is no longer whether but when all road vehicles become fully autonomous.”

Among developments are Ford delivering pizzas in Miami to test its driverless vehicles, possibly leading to ride-sharing, and Waymo gaining approval for the United States’ first commercial driverless ride-hailing service, aiming to start this year in Arizona with Chrysler Pacifica minivans ferrying paying passengers using a smartphone app or website.

A robot driver “IVO” is being developed in Israel to use existing cars, trucks and other industrial vehicles so there’s no need to use specially built autonomous vehicles.
New technology continues to improve the outlook for AVs, likely to be very popular with ride-share services.

A new laser-based system could allow vehicles to “see” obstacles before they come into view, for instance.

Australia has been lagging in electric vehicle and AV development, placing 14th on the KPMG AVRI. But some states, like Victoria, are pushing ahead with AV projects.

VicRoads can grant permits to individuals or organisations wanting to hold AV road trials, under Road Safety Act changes. A $9 million grant programme for researchers and industry is available too.

Under the new laws, all driverless vehicle trials will require a human supervisor to monitor the vehicle from either inside or outside the vehicle. Once it has been established a vehicle can drive safely, that condition may be removed.

Stakes are high in the AV race. For example, Delphi plans to buy self-driving car company Nutonomy for US$450 million. Delphi sees the first opportunity in commercial vehicles, then expanding to consumer vehicles.

It will have autonomous driving operations in Boston, Pittsburgh, Singapore, Santa Monica, and Silicon Valley, with the company aiming to have 60 autonomous cars on the road by the end of the year.

That we can expect big changes seems certain. Tesla and The Boring Company founder Elon Musk wants to put high-speed autonomous electric buses in urban tunnels, for example.

Musk says the company’s urban loop system would have thousands of small stations the size of a single parking space that take passengers very close to their destination and blend seamlessly into the city’s fabric.

After setting up mass transit solutions, Musk plans to have cars also descend from street level aboard electric “skates” on lifts to whiz around the underground network.

He’s already digging tunnels in Los Angeles and plans to do the same on the United States East Coast.

Toyota Motor Corporation’s new design general manager Simon Humphries believes even the mass-market for vehicles could disappear.

Humphries says he sees a future market divided into the widespread adoption of generic, autonomous mobility devices and luxury vehicles and sports cars.

Visit www.kpmg.com/avri for the full 60-page AVRI report.