Future of Transport Policy Brief

FUTURE OF TRANSPORT | La Jolla Conference 30 th Anniversary Policy Brief

Autonomous Vehicles

Is autonomous mobility the way of the future?

Safety: A core problem exists in personal transport today: driving is not as safe as it could be given the level of technology available today. 50 million injuries and 1.35 million deaths occur each year, with 94% of vehicle accidents resulting from human error. Removing the human element from personal vehicle transport is a promising solution. Comfort : In addition to paving the way to fewer driving-related accidents and deaths, fully autonomous mobility would allow passengers to engage in other activities without fear of catastrophe. Independent systems: Focusing on designing autonomous mobility systems to operate in any setting, independent of technology-specific infrastructure built into cities, adds to the safety and security of driverless vehicles. On top of this, fewer public resources would need to be allocated to building and maintaining such infrastructure. Complementarity: Autonomous mobility systems are not likely to replace other modes of transportation operated by human drivers, such as public transportation or ride-hailing apps, but instead would add to the choices that individuals have in how they navigate the roads. Maritime Transport

What does the future hold for maritime transport?

Long-term decarbonization of maritime vehicles: Sea-based transport needs to be smarter and greener, with many international financial institutions adopting the Poseidon Principles 4 . Since many issues related to maritime transport are international in nature, global collaboration is key, especially with respect to transfers of green technology. Efficiency: Since 2013, efficiency in ship design and operation has been a central focus. Improvements in hull-form optimization is estimated to reduce drag and resistance by 10- 15%, and can be complemented by hull lubrication, maintenance, and paint technology. However, these improvements are costly and must be economically viable to be adopted on a wide scale.

4 The Poseidon Principles are a framework for assessing and disclosing the climate alignment of ship finance portfolios.

FUTURE OF TRANSPORT | INSTITUTE OF THE AMERICAS