Autonomous vehicles (AV) are included in a vast group known in the European Union (EU) as Connectivity and Automation in Transport (CAT). These transports are studied by the Innovation and Development department because they answer to three fundamental EU objectives as: (1) contribute to decarbonisation, (2) better efficiency, and (3) competitiveness49.
Europe battles for an economy environmental friendly and less dependent of energy consumption, and points out as 2050 objectives:
– reduction of 80% in greenhouse effect,
– and cut of 60 % of emissions;
Compared to 1990 values in different sectors as industry, agriculture, etc.50
Among these is also the mobility sector, one of the major responsible by emissions. It is expected that the timed intervention with the fleet replacement by electrical and hybrid vehicles, might help achieve the 60% reduction50.
But profound alterations may bring an unwanted disturb. Transports have an enormous impact in society nowadays. On an economic level it employs 12 million on the automotive industry, plus 5 million on a direct level; and it the sector that is most invest in innovation and development49.
With the development of new technologies, new solutions arise regarding passenger and cargo transportation. The door is open to create new international markets and, as a consequence, create value to Europe.
However, as the technology evolves the bigger the amount of tests required. Systems are implemented and tested at a greater scale. The implementation time frame is thought to be long and the mobility policies should predict the negative results that with come from this innovation.