Autonomous Driving Systems Can Significantly Cut Fleet Operating Costs

Navigant Research has published a new report stating automated driving technology can significantly cut the cost of operating fleet vehicles and has backed this assertion with a detailed analysis of related technologies and market issues and forecasts regarding the prospects for automated passenger cars and trucks.

Most of the tests and development of automated vehicles has been carried out for light-duty vehicles, but the same technologies can be of immense benefit when it comes to heavy vehicles as well. Automated systems can have a significant impact when it comes to the accident rate, make driving more fuel-efficient and their use can lead to higher levels of vehicle utilization as such systems do not easily get distracted or need long rest periods. Hence, the vehicles need less downtime.

Commenting on the report, David Alexander, senior analyst with Navigant Research said that research related to fully automated driving of cars has led to greater investment in advanced sensors and computing hardware and software.

He added, “Lower cost and higher power are the keys to commercial success, and the technology is quickly approaching the threshold where it will be practical to bring advanced features to the mass market. These systems are being rapidly adapted to the commercial vehicle market.”

These benefits of using automated driving technologies are likely to lead to more widespread adoption of such technologies among commercial fleets in the short term. Fully automated driving technologies would be adopted over the long term, possibly beginning in the next decade. Goods vehicles and buses can benefit in the short term from collision avoidance and lower fuel consumption, while automated driving systems have the potential to change significantly the nature of truck driving jobs.

The report, Automated Driving for Commercial Vehicles, provides an overview of the global market for automated driving technology for commercial vehicles. The study comprises an analysis of key market issues, including definitions, pros and cons, legislation, and sector-level adoption, related to automated driving. It covers global market projections for the adoption of automated driving function in both light duty and heavy vehicles, segmented by region, right up to 2030.