General Motors has a point of view regarding this question. For GM, electric vehicles offer better integration of the required advanced technologies for autonomous vehicles that operate cleanly and safely. EVs offer the stable power and low latency required for efficient autonomous vehicle operation according to GM. A Green Car Congress article suggests that gas powered autonomous vehicles could cause a 200 percent increase in emissions as miles driven in an autonomous world increases dramatically. However, in a recent Axios article, Ford is taking a more measured approach toward full electric vehicles, even for autonomous applications. Ford prefers hybrid powertrains for their autonomous vehicles for now. Ford’s issues around EVs for self-driving applications revolve around practical concerns like a lack of charging infrastructure and the current state of battery technology necessary for useful autonomous mobility businesses. Are these two differences in strategy just a matter of “when” all autonomous vehicles will be electric versus “if” they will be electric? Or is Ford correct to allocate their investments in autonomous EVs later, when battery technology along with charging station infrastructure can support autonomous vehicle mobility services?
Should Autonomous Vehicles be Electric Vehicles or ICE Vehicles?
