Autonomous EVs Are Being Used for Lyft
Self-driving, autonomous EVs are quickly becoming the future for ridesharing companies like Lyft and Uber.
Written by Preston Charles
Reviewed by Serena Aburahma
It won’t be long before ridesharing will be all passengers and no driver as autonomous EVs become more prevalent. Robotaxis, as they’re called, are quickly coming to the forefront of the ridesharing conversation.
Recently both Uber and Lyft have signed long-term deals with Motional, a
self-driving
EV company that is a subsidiary of Hyundai. It doesn’t seem to be a matter of if with autonomous taxis, and EV ride-sharing, but more a matter of when. These back-to-back deals suggest the time is quickly approaching.
Las Vegas as a testing ground
Due to its wide, straight streets, which are almost purely operated by taxis and ride shares alone, Las Vegas has become an experimental playground for autonomous technology. According to
Teslarati
, Lyft began offering driverless rides in 2018. They’re now going one step further with Motional beginning to use a driverless version of the
Hyundai Ioniq 5
, scaling up AVs (Autonomous Vehicles) that are also 100% electric. The two companies will begin taking their EV driverless ride shares to other major American cities starting in 2023.
Motional and Lyft have a clear path to widespread commercialization of
Level 4 autonomous vehicles
,” CEO and President of Motional Karl Iagnemma said in a recent statement. “We’ve led the industry in commercial operations for years, and today’s launch signals we’re on track to deliver a fully driverless service next year. Riders in Las Vegas can now experience Motional’s IONIQ 5 AV that will make that service a reality. Through our strategic partnership with Hyundai, the IONIQ 5 AV is fully customized for driverless ride-hail operation while maintaining the vehicle’s award-winning comfort and design.”
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How it works
Driverless taxis feel like the stuff of a sci-fi story but they work in a way that is pretty straightforward and sensible.
From unlocking the doors, starting the ride, or needing customer service assistance, the experience is all done through the Lyft app. Motional has been testing and refining its technology for years, dialing in a perfect customer experience.
“We are designing an autonomous experience where the only expectation for riders is to relax and enjoy the ride.” Karl Iagnemma goes on to say.
Since 2018 Motional has given 100,000 visitors to Vegas their first driver-less robotaxi experience. 95% of users have left a 5-star rating of their experience. That’s far higher than most human drivers have for that number of users.
Working closely alongside the City of Las Vegas, Clark County, and the Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada, Lyft and Motional are looking to launch a fully driverless service in 2023.
Car insurance for human or digital error
Be it self-driving or human operated, you’re going to want to make sure your vehicle has the best insurance that money can buy. Super app,
Jerry
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MORE: Tesla Is Losing a Veteran of Its Autopilot Department
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