A recent study by the Boston Consulting Group (BCG) has revealed a surprising acceptance level of self driving vehicles in Dubai. The study, titled Self-Driving Vehicles, Robo-Taxis and the Urban Mobility Revolution, reveals that 70% of UAE residents are willing to ride a Self Driving Vehicle (SDV), which compares quite favorably with the global percentage of 79%.
In April this year, His Highness Sheikh Mohammad bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Ruler of Dubai, laid down the strategy for self driving vehicles in Dubai by setting the ambitious goal of having 25% of all car trips to be driverless by 2030.
The findings of the study show that general awareness regarding SDVs and their benefits is reasonably adequate. 47% of the UAE survey participants indicated their willingness to pay more for an SDV, while 72% said they would be willing to pay a premium of $5,000 for an SDV.
Advantages to Urban Transportation
A research conducted by BGS and World Economic Forum revealed that the greatest impact of self driving vehicles will be on the public transportation sector with the widespread use of shared self-driving taxis. Public acceptance of SDVs in urban transportation is pivotal given that an analysis presented by BCG shows that SDVs used in public transportation can lead to 60% reduction in number of cars on streets, 80% reduction in carbon emissions and 90% reduction in traffic accidents.
Scenario-based Analysis
BCG and WEF have presented four scenarios for the role of SDVs in future urban transportation. Ride sharing and electric vehicles are important factors in the scenarios which are as follows:
- Self driving vehicles are accepted by a small, relatively more affluent, section of society resulting in a 1% reduction in number of cars on the streets and a 20% reduction in traffic accidents due to elimination of human error.
- SDVs replace most privately owned cars and sharing ratio will be 1:10 (only 1 in ten SDVs will be shared) resulting in a 8% reduction in the number of cars on the streets, 55% reduction in accidents and 5% increase in parking space.
- Self driving taxis become the primary mode of transportation resulting in 50% reduction in number of cars on road, 90% reduction in accidents and 40% increase in parking space.
- Shared self driving taxis become the dominant mode of transportation resulting in 54% increase in parking space, 59% reduction of cars on the streets and an 87% reduction in accidents.
BCG clarifies that in reality the outcome of increased SDVs on the roads will be hard to predict. The implications of the study for urban transportation are too powerful to ignore. Combined with ride sharing and electrification the widespread use of SDVs can ease the commute of the average citizen and have a positive impact on the climate.