California Considers Electrification Deadline for Self-Driving Cars

A potential first-of-its-kind regulation is being considered in California. It could mandate that all self-driving cars operate on electric power.

Proposed Legislation and its Scope

A bill, designated SB 500, was recently presented to the California State Legislature. This legislation proposes that all autonomous vehicles must be zero-emission by the year 2025.

Senator Dave Min introduced the bill, with sponsorship from the Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS). The implications of SB 500 would be significant for the developing AV industry, impacting sectors like ride-hailing, delivery services, and long-haul trucking.

Alignment with Existing Emissions Goals

This amendment is consistent with California’s broader objectives for reducing emissions. It would be integrated into the state’s existing vehicle code.

Current programs already incentivize zero-emission vehicles, including the Clean Vehicle Rebate Project and the Charge Ahead California Initiative.

Impact on Commercial Fleets

Governor Gavin Newsom has previously stated a goal of 100% zero-emission new vehicle sales by 2035. However, this goal currently does not extend to commercial fleets.

Passage of SB 500 would change that. While still in the early stages, the bill presents a challenge to the autonomous vehicle industry and companies focused on developing this technology within California.

Conversely, it could benefit companies that exclusively utilize electric vehicles.

Statements from Key Figures

“California has set important standards to aggressively address our climate crisis,” Senator Min explained to TechCrunch. “My SB 500 aligns with these ambitions and takes a critical first step in requiring autonomous vehicles to be zero emission before they are put to widespread use.”

Potential for Wider Impact

Supporters of the bill emphasize the importance of ensuring future transportation methods don’t rely on outdated technologies. They highlight the potential for AVs to either contribute to or detract from emissions reduction efforts.

California is known for its leadership in EV adoption and emissions policies. Therefore, the outcome of this bill could influence similar legislation in other states nationwide.

The Role of Fleet Vehicle Mileage

“It definitely seems like we’re going to start seeing AVs in these fleet applications, whether that’s ride-hailing or delivery, and that makes it even more important that these vehicles are electric,” stated Elizabeth Irvin, a senior transportation analyst at UCS.

Irvin further noted the significant difference in mileage between average drivers and professional drivers. The average driver travels 11,000 to 13,000 miles annually, while full-time ride-hailing drivers often exceed 30,000 miles per year.

Addressing Transportation Emissions with Autonomous Vehicle Policy

Nearly half of California's greenhouse gas emissions originate from the transportation sector. While iconic sunsets in Los Angeles may be visually striking, advocates emphasize that failing to establish standards for the autonomous vehicle (AV) industry could result in widespread use of fossil fuel-powered commercial AVs.

The Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS) has voiced its support for this bill, citing research indicating that AVs have the potential to significantly increase vehicle miles traveled, and consequently, emissions. This increase stems from the convenience of being a passenger rather than a driver.

A study focusing on the Washington, D.C. area projected a potential 66% rise in total driving by 2040 with the introduction of AVs, compared to baseline projections for that year.

According to a TechCrunch interview, Irvin of UCS has engaged in discussions with key industry players. These include Nuro, an autonomous delivery startup backed by SoftBank, and Cruise, the self-driving technology division of General Motors.

The goal of these conversations is to develop policies that mandate all AVs operating in California to be zero-emission vehicles prior to widespread adoption.

A Nuro spokesperson stated the company supports initiatives to accelerate the transition to clean energy, aligning with their core values. They envision autonomous vehicles leading the broader automotive industry towards a more sustainable future.

Image Credits: Nuro

Cruise shares this perspective. Last year, they introduced the Origin, a driverless vehicle specifically designed for ride-sharing and powered by an all-electric platform developed through a collaboration between GM and Honda.

Currently, Cruise is not yet conducting tests of the autonomous Origin vehicles in San Francisco. The battery technology is still undergoing rigorous evaluation at GM’s testing facilities.

However, Cruise intends to deploy a fleet of autonomous vehicles – initially utilizing the all-electric Chevrolet Bolt – to provide ride-hailing and potentially delivery services within San Francisco.

Rob Grant, Senior Vice President of Government Affairs at Cruise, explained to TechCrunch that the nascent stage of this industry presents a unique opportunity. “Unlike retrofitting existing fleets, companies can choose to prioritize electric vehicles from the outset, avoiding costly and complex conversions later on.”

Hybrid and Electric Vehicles in Autonomous Technology

The utilization of electric vehicles isn't universal within the realm of Autonomous Vehicles (AVs). Both the Ford Fusion hybrid and the Chrysler Pacifica Plug-in Hybrid minivan have consistently served as preferred platforms for AV development teams, encompassing companies like Argo AI, Aurora, Waymo, and Voyage.

Argo AI functions as a technology platform firm, collaborating with prominent automotive manufacturers, including Volkswagen and Ford, to engineer autonomous driving systems. While Volkswagen’s ID.Buzz represents the company’s inaugural fully electric self-driving vehicle, Ford currently favors a phased strategy, opting to modify the hybrid Ford Fusion.

“A complete transition to Battery Electric Vehicles (BEVs) is a shared objective, however, achieving the optimal equilibrium is crucial for establishing a sustainable and profitable business model,” stated John Davis, chief engineer at Ford Autonomous Vehicles. “This necessitates an initial deployment utilizing hybrid vehicles.”

Davis highlighted several challenges inherent in the development of all-electric AVs, notably the reduction in driving range due to onboard technology demands, diminished vehicle availability during charging periods, and potential battery degradation.

“Testing indicates that as much as 50% of a BEV’s range can be consumed by the computational requirements of an AV system, in addition to the energy needs of A/C and entertainment systems essential for passenger comfort during ride-hailing services,” Davis explained. “We remain optimistic as advancements in battery chemistry and cost reductions continue to address these concerns.”

Image credits: Andrej Sokolow/dpa picture alliance via Getty Images

Waymo initiated and subsequently launched a robotaxi service within a restricted, yet expanding, geographical area in the Phoenix metropolitan region. Although the company hasn’t formally declared plans to introduce a commercial service in California, its sustained activities strongly suggest such an intention. The Mountain View, California-based firm routinely tests its vehicles, including the electric Jaguar I-Pace, in and around San Francisco. Waymo expressed support for Newsom’s recent executive order, but refrained from fully endorsing the specific wording of Min’s bill.

“Being the first to commercially deploy fully autonomous technology to the public, we wholeheartedly support the objectives outlined in Governor Newsom’s Executive Order N-79-20, which adopts a comprehensive approach to transitioning California towards a 100% EV future,” communicated a Waymo spokesperson to TechCrunch. “Waymo’s business interests and partnerships extend to ride-hailing, trucking, and local delivery, and we aim to ensure California’s EV policy considers the diverse issues and industries involved. The legislative process is still in its early stages, and we anticipate collaborating with Sen. Min on this endeavor.”

Sources within the industry, familiar with the proposed bill, have pointed out that the current draft is concise and likely a preliminary version, with limited prospects for immediate passage. These sources also criticized the bill’s sponsors and author for omitting provisions regarding charging infrastructure planning and for failing to differentiate between light-duty and heavy-duty vehicles. Autonomous freight trucks are anticipated to be among the first vehicles to achieve widespread autonomous operation. The majority of self-driving truck development is currently taking place outside of California, in states with more lenient regulations, such as Arizona and Texas. While efforts are underway to develop both electric and autonomous semi-trucks, current testing predominantly utilizes diesel-powered vehicles. This situation may encourage companies aiming to deploy in California to advocate for an exemption for heavy-duty vehicles within the senator’s legislation.

“We are continuing to refine the details as the bill progresses through the legislative process, but UCS’s goal is to maintain the focus on the electrification requirement,” Irvin responded.

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