New AutoMotive presents Global EV Tracker at automotive industry conference

We were delighted to be invited to present some of our latest work to representatives of the automotive industry at the 3rd DRCC Conference in Munich. Below is a summary of our CEO’s presentation, which covered our work on a Global EV Tracker, on accelerating emissions reductions through high mileage motorists, and the potential for onnected and autonomous vehicles to provide environmental and wider social benefits.

The transportation sector is a major climate culprit, but electric vehicles (EVs) are emerging as a powerful weapon. At New AutoMotive, a UK think tank for clean transport, we believe regulating EVs offers valuable insights for connected and autonomous vehicles (CAVs).

Three forces drive EV adoption: physics (advancing battery technology), economics (falling production and running costs), and regulation (laws that accelerate the shift towards EVs). As EV adoption increases, the regulatory approach needs to adapt. Initially, incentives like grants jumpstart the market by enticing early adopters. As EVs reach a larger market segment, the focus shifts to obligations on manufacturers, like the EU's emissions standards pushing automakers to develop cleaner vehicles.

While some European regions have seen enthusiastic early adopter uptake, reaching the early majority requires a clear value proposition beyond environmental benefits. Consumers need a tangible financial or practical advantage to switch to EVs. This experience with EVs serves as a valuable lesson for the future of CAVs. The good news is that change can happen quickly, as evidenced by EV sales growth. New AutoMotive's free Global EV Tracker provides the latest data on the electrification revolution.

Regulating CAVs on European roads is likely to be more complex than regulating EVs due to the fundamental shift in how vehicles operate and the data they generate. Unlike a traditional car, a CAV constantly collects and transmits a vast amount of information about its surroundings, including the location of other vehicles, pedestrians, and obstacles. This data presents both opportunities and challenges. Policymakers, grappling with the challenges of regulating CAVs, will want something in return: social benefits.

On the one hand, CAVs can be used to improve safety by allowing vehicles to communicate with each other and with infrastructure, potentially leading to fewer accidents and smoother traffic flow. On the other hand, this data raises significant privacy concerns. Who will have access to the data? How will it be used? How can we ensure it is not misused? Additionally, the very notion of who is responsible in the event of an accident with a CAV needs to be carefully considered. Is it the driver, the manufacturer, or some combination of both? These are just some of the complex legal and ethical questions that need to be addressed before CAVs can be widely deployed on European roads.

Looking beyond safety, CAVs hold the potential to unlock a range of societal benefits: reduced congestion, improved accessibility for people with disabilities, and further environmental gains through optimized driving patterns. This is particularly exciting when considering the vast amount of driving data that could be harnessed to improve efficiency.

Interestingly, a relatively small portion of drivers, known as "super users," contribute significantly to transport emissions. These high-mileage drivers are a prime target for maximizing the impact of emission reduction strategies. Data on these users would be invaluable for prioritizing who should switch to EVs first.

The data they generate can be incredibly valuable. It can help us understand future electricity demand for charging infrastructure and inform regulations based on real-world fuel consumption and emissions data. It can help optimise driving for energy efficiency, reducing the load on electricity grids that comes from electrifying road transport.

Society and its elected representatives expects technological advancements like CAVs to deliver tangible benefits for everyone. Data will be the cornerstone of regulations that ensure these benefits are achieved. As CAV technology develops, New AutoMotive will continue to be at the forefront, providing insights and advocating for regulations that prioritize safety, efficiency, and a cleaner future for transportation.