Abstract:

In the debate about automation towards driverless cars, ethical, safety-related and legal issues have so far been in the foreground. The impact on the traffic turnaround and thus on the climate and the environment, on the other hand, has remained a subordinate issue. With regard to energy consumption, the hope is particularly emphasized that automated vehicles can drive more efficiently and therefore have energy-saving potential compared to conventional cars. On the other hand, little attention is paid to the additional energy consumption associated with automating vehicles and networking them with one another, with data platforms and the infrastructure. 

As an impetus for this discussion, Agora Verkehrswende commissioned the Fraunhofer Institute for Systems and Innovation Research ISI with a holistic analysis. The results of the analysis “Auto fuels Internet” is presented in the first part of the webinar. The findings and possible developments with representatives from the industry are then discussed.