if there are no economies of scale to vehicle size, it seems to me this tech implies that everyone should use driverless cars rather than driverless buses - higher load factors. Of course, there are economies of scale - mainly, as I understand it, that air resistance is almost a fixed cost, regardless of numbers of passengers. However, if buses were the optimal size before driverless EVs, then I expect buses will be too big in the future. So - I expect we should plan for driverless electric minibuses and for a greater diversity of routes, perhaps even variable routes.
Yes, although I suspect having a set route doesn't make any difference. A bus would still have to be able to cope with a route diversion. I agree on the aesthetics, but also justifying the cost needs a vehicle to be driving a lot and parked a little (whereas our cars are parked 95% of the time) hence taxis and buses. I've thought for a while that driverless trains are well overdue - no trains cancelled due to driver shortage or strikes and a cost saving in the long run.
DLR in London is driverless I think (?). Seems to work OK!
yes, although that is a train!
if there are no economies of scale to vehicle size, it seems to me this tech implies that everyone should use driverless cars rather than driverless buses - higher load factors. Of course, there are economies of scale - mainly, as I understand it, that air resistance is almost a fixed cost, regardless of numbers of passengers. However, if buses were the optimal size before driverless EVs, then I expect buses will be too big in the future. So - I expect we should plan for driverless electric minibuses and for a greater diversity of routes, perhaps even variable routes.
Finland are doing some stuff in this space. https://www.tampere.fi/en/current/2026/06/15/driverless-robot-bus-new-era-begins-tampere
Blimey - two weeks in a row I am behind the times - I must be getting old!
We're doing it in Cambridge! You'd be most welcome to come and visit, and take a ride!
https://www.greatercambridge.org.uk/smart-technology-innovation/connector
Blimey - two weeks in a row I am behind the times - I must be getting old!
Yes, although I suspect having a set route doesn't make any difference. A bus would still have to be able to cope with a route diversion. I agree on the aesthetics, but also justifying the cost needs a vehicle to be driving a lot and parked a little (whereas our cars are parked 95% of the time) hence taxis and buses. I've thought for a while that driverless trains are well overdue - no trains cancelled due to driver shortage or strikes and a cost saving in the long run.