Are we on the brink of an electric car revolution?

[adam2]

This is a preamble to driverless vehicles. You know it and I know it

Yes agree.
It is a preamble to driverless vehicles, however the HGVs referred to a few posts back are NOT driverless, each truck has a driver.

[emordnilap]

If I have understood correctly, each HGV will still have a driver to steer, and to take control in an emergency.
The first vehicle will be driven just like any other, but the second and third vehicles will have braking and acceleration under automatic control, controlled by both the lead vehicle and by a distance sensor that maintains a modest gap.
No savings in wages.

No? Watch this space. It's coming.

OTOH, few if any human drivers leave enough room to stop if the vehicle in front makes an unexpected stop.

I do - but it really annoys the driver behind me, who overtakes at the merest chance, which means I have to drop back, annoying the driver behind me...

[woodburner]

That's the trouble with fukwits. They can't understand the increased safety from being delayed by an extra second (as most drivers drive a second behind the one in front) to their journey. Instead they drive close with a higher risk, overtaking until they get behind another fukwit. This may gain them a few seconds in a longish journey, but if there is usual congestion it is likely to mean near nothing, as you catch them at the next bottleneck.

[emordnilap]

The Irish are pathological overtakers. They really dislike being behind other vehicles. Me? I tootle along till I get there, neither overtly slow nor too fast, neither accelerating or braking harshly and getting well over 60mpg long term as a bonus.

Like you say, it's irrelevant, overtaking makes no positive difference over short-to-medium distances.

[emordnilap]

This is a preamble to driverless vehicles. You know it and I know it

Yes agree.
It is a preamble to driverless vehicles, however the HGVs referred to a few posts back are NOT driverless, each truck has a driver.

I believe Tesla intend to have 1 driver per road train of their electric lorries.

[adam2]

I believe Tesla intend to have 1 driver per road train of their electric lorries.

Perhaps it would be simpler to couple the vehicles together in some way ?
Fit the front one with sufficient power so as to haul a dozen or more trailing vehicles.
Only one driver, or computer would then be needed.
To help keep the vehicles in line, they could be guided by metal rails, this would also reduce the friction and allow greater loads to be hauled for the same power.
It would be most important that each vehicle be equipped with power operated brakes, operated from the front vehicle. This could be perhaps done by compressed air.
To economise on the size of the battery, it might be possible to supply electricity from an overhead wire. Only one wire would be needed, the return could be via the guide rails.
A smaller battery could be used for parts of the route where overhead wires can not be safely installed.

It MIGHT even be possible to adapt the technology to convey passengers !
Imagine the possibilities ! dozens or even hundreds of passengers could be conveyed, rather than each small group needing their own carriage and without the trouble and expense of horses or the dangers of the new patent horseless carriages.

The briefest of stops would permit of the driver, when tired being replaced by another man.
It might be possible to pass from one vehicle to another, even whilst they are moving.
One vehicle could be set aside for taking meals, these being cooked on board, and on the longest journeys vehicles could be provided containing beds in small private compartments.
Electricity could be used for lighting, heating and cooking, and the whole experience would more resemble a small but well appointed ship rather than a coach.

[kenneal - lagger]

Adam, perhaps some of the coupled vehicles could be fitted with electric motors to spread the power input out and reduce spin and wear on the drive wheels.

[Little John]

How will all of this be paid for if no one has a job?

[emordnilap]

How will all of this be paid for if no one has a job?

Pre-zactly.

Most fast food chains will be going automated fairly soon.

Select combination (or text it while you drive to the joint), wave your card and a 'food' printer will assemble your dumpstergrub out of sight. 'For your convenience' was never so appropriate!

Meanwhile, a single minimum wage immigrunt will be shovelling shíte into the back of this automated monster. Robots will be after her job too.

No managers required for this set-up. Another grunt in a room far, far away (outsourced of course) will monitor multiple fast food dives for potential profit-reducing holdups.

[kenneal - lagger]

How will all of this be paid for if no one has a job?

The question I ask my MP especially as no firms will be paying tax either!

[woodburner]

Select combination (or text it while you drive to the joint), wave your card and a 'food' printer will assemble your dumpstergrub out of sight. 'For your convenience' was never so appropriate!

[Lurkalot]

Most fast food chains will be going automated fairly soon.

Seems they've already started phasing out the minimum wage moped riders,
https://www.just-eat.co.uk/blog/delivery-bots/

[Potemkin Villager]

I believe Tesla intend to have 1 driver per road train of their electric lorries.

Perhaps it would be simpler to couple the vehicles together in some way ?
Fit the front one with sufficient power so as to haul a dozen or more trailing vehicles.
Only one driver, or computer would then be needed.
To help keep the vehicles in line, they could be guided by metal rails, this would also reduce the friction and allow greater loads to be hauled for the same power.
It would be most important that each vehicle be equipped with power operated brakes, operated from the front vehicle. This could be perhaps done by compressed air.
To economise on the size of the battery, it might be possible to supply electricity from an overhead wire. Only one wire would be needed, the return could be via the guide rails.
A smaller battery could be used for parts of the route where overhead wires can not be safely installed.

It MIGHT even be possible to adapt the technology to convey passengers !
Imagine the possibilities ! dozens or even hundreds of passengers could be conveyed, rather than each small group needing their own carriage and without the trouble and expense of horses or the dangers of the new patent horseless carriages.

The briefest of stops would permit of the driver, when tired being replaced by another man.
It might be possible to pass from one vehicle to another, even whilst they are moving.
One vehicle could be set aside for taking meals, these being cooked on board, and on the longest journeys vehicles could be provided containing beds in small private compartments.
Electricity could be used for lighting, heating and cooking, and the whole experience would more resemble a small but well appointed ship rather than a coach.

Brilliant idea A2, I am amazed nobody has thought of it before! It sounds a fantastic way to travel.

[emordnilap]

You know, a mega selling point for automated fast food production is the elimination of humans from the process. Humans are error-prone, dirty and slow.

Not mentioned will be that your typical habitual fast food consumer wants to get rid of interaction. But maybe that will be slipped in as an advantage, as with the delivery bots.

[kenneal - lagger]

Will the machines be cleaned automatically as well, Em, to get rid of the human error there? And auto delivery lorries? With auto unload and load into the cooking/vending machines?