Self-Driving Cars May Increase Demand for Gas

Self-driving cars might be more efficient on the roadways but they won’t be as fuel efficient according to a recent study.

Researchers at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor say that autonomous vehicles will consume more energy than cars being driven by humans because they will be making more trips, more often.

According to data from the U.S. National Household Travel Survey, each adult in most households commutes, run errands and shuttles the kids separately. In order for a self-driving car to complete the same tasks, it will likely make more trips resulting in more fuel usage. For example, the self-driving car might drop off one parent at work before returning home to pick up the other. After that trip, it would then take the kids to school and return home before restarting the cycle in the afternoon and evening.

SEE ALSO: What You Need To Know About Autonomous Vehicles

Calculations by University of Michigan researchers Brandon Schoettle and Michael Sivak show that increased sharing could mean 43 percent less cars on American roads but they will be used 75 percent more.

There is one caveat though. Autonomous vehicles will be better at conserving fuel by operating more efficiently than humans, which may balance out the increased usage. There’s also the possibile of the majority of self-driving cars being electric vehicles, which makes is a win-win situation.

“It could be that sharing the vehicle ends up increasing the mileage because of all these connecting trips,” Schoettle said. “The net effect is probably going to be an increase in mileage, and in general the more miles you drive the more fuel you burn.”

[Source: Automotive News]

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