mettech Posted July 8, 2014 Author Share Posted July 8, 2014 Autoline Daily about this subject plus interesting info about LED lights. http://www.autoline.tv/journal/?p=32274 I don't use my F-350 but for a few times each quarter to tow our fifth wheel RV and maybe twice/month to haul stuff. I would be interested in "renting" a truck only when I need it and maybe a lux car on long trips or for special events. If I could "order/request" an autonomous car to show up in my drive at a scheduled time or with a 30min advance time.. I might be swayed to buy into this program. Maybe today I would like to have a sport sedan and tomorrow a van... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NickF1011 Posted July 8, 2014 Share Posted July 8, 2014 If you're familiar with the mass migration of the people of West Virginia, Ohio, VA and NC to Myrtle Beach every summer (esp Memorial Day, July 4, and Labor Day), you can imagine the hole it would leave in such a community property as shared cars. I'm familiar with the same flow of people making a complete mess of Annapolis traffic on their way to the Maryland and Delaware shores. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NickF1011 Posted July 8, 2014 Share Posted July 8, 2014 Autoline Daily about this subject plus interesting info about LED lights. http://www.autoline.tv/journal/?p=32274 I don't use my F-350 but for a few times each quarter to tow our fifth wheel RV and maybe twice/month to haul stuff. I would be interested in "renting" a truck only when I need it and maybe a lux car on long trips or for special events. If I could "order/request" an autonomous car to show up in my drive at a scheduled time or with a 30min advance time.. I might be swayed to buy into this program. Maybe today I would like to have a sport sedan and tomorrow a van... It would be convenient in some instances for sure. But only really to augment existing owned vehicles for most people, not to replace them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RangerM Posted July 8, 2014 Share Posted July 8, 2014 How many situations can one think of that doesn't afford a 30-minute advance time? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NickF1011 Posted July 8, 2014 Share Posted July 8, 2014 How many situations can one think of that doesn't afford a 30-minute advance time? Any emergency. And just one of those is enough to warrant me having my own vehicle. And I actually take pride in my vehicles. Publicly shared vehicles are going to be mistreated piles of garbage in no time. Have you seen what the seats of cabs and buses look like?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
papilgee4evaeva Posted July 8, 2014 Share Posted July 8, 2014 How many situations can one think of that doesn't afford a 30-minute advance time? If you have young kids in daycare... about 16,384. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fordmantpw Posted July 8, 2014 Share Posted July 8, 2014 If you have young kids in daycare... about 16,384. per week Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RichardJensen Posted July 8, 2014 Share Posted July 8, 2014 I'm impressed that papilgee decided to use 2^14 for his 'random' amount of distractions. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
papilgee4evaeva Posted July 8, 2014 Share Posted July 8, 2014 I'm impressed that papilgee decided to use 2^14 for his 'random' amount of distractions. Because 215 is all too common, and 220 would have just been showing off. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xr7g428 Posted July 9, 2014 Share Posted July 9, 2014 This won't be an either / or situation, cars will just slowly transition to autonomous operation in certain situations. You have to connect the benefits to the person paying for them. The idea of shared anything appeals to internet people that think everything should be free (to themselves). In the real world autonomous cars will benefit who ever is sitting in the car, and most likely that is going to be paid for by the same person. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TomServo92 Posted July 10, 2014 Share Posted July 10, 2014 How much do you want to bet that those in power and / or influence would be able to retain private ownership if it was decided that private ownership was deemed unacceptable and inefficient? It always seems to be a "do as I say not as I do" proposition. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RangerM Posted July 10, 2014 Share Posted July 10, 2014 How much do you want to bet that those in power and / or influence would be able to retain private ownership if it was decided that private ownership was deemed unacceptable and inefficient? It always seems to be a "do as I say not as I do" proposition. Or it will be the way fuel was rationed during WWII. Those of privilege or power will get the magic "X" and the rest will be "A" cars. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rmc523 Posted July 10, 2014 Share Posted July 10, 2014 How many situations can one think of that doesn't afford a 30-minute advance time? So then all spur of the the moment trips to the store or out to eat, or anywhere become "oh Iet's go here....but we have to wait 30 minutes to go for the car to get here." And then now everyone would have to plan every part of their day 30 minutes ahead of time to allow for the autonomous car to pick them up? "Oh so at 2:30 I want to go to the store, I need to order the car by 2:00." Just seems like a very inconvenient situation, unless you're in a large city, where parking and such isn't very easy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RichardJensen Posted July 10, 2014 Share Posted July 10, 2014 Also, how would this be cheaper than owning a car? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mettech Posted July 10, 2014 Author Share Posted July 10, 2014 Insurance, taxes, maintenance and depreciation cost would (should) only be applied during your utilization period and shared with others during the remaining 24hrs/day. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fordmantpw Posted July 10, 2014 Share Posted July 10, 2014 Also, how would this be cheaper than owning a car? If you don't use your car every day, then I could see it. However, if you already use your car every day to get to work, and would still need to under this system, then you will be paying for all that insurance, taxes, maintenance, and depreciation indirectly anyway, so there really wouldn't be any savings. Basically, if you could already use public transportation to get to work, this would be a great system for you. If not, then, well, there is no point. Rural areas? Pffft, don't bother. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RichardJensen Posted July 10, 2014 Share Posted July 10, 2014 (edited) Insurance, taxes, maintenance and depreciation cost would (should) only be applied during your utilization period and shared with others during the remaining 24hrs/day. 1) Insurance and taxes are fractional aspects of TCO 2) commercial taxes are considerably higher than non-commercial taxes, thus invalidating a significant portion of that 'savings' 3) the company providing this service--it will be doing so out of pure generosity, and will not be insisting on turning a profit on the service? And if there is a profit per mile, will it be so small as to fit into the tiny savings--per mile driven--in insurance and licensing costs? 4) aren't maintenance and depreciation tied strongly to rate of usage? How am I benefited by paying for expenses that tend to accrue per mile driven on a per mile basis with this new fancy autonomous car service? 5) what is the time I spend waiting for this service worth? ---- The arrogance of people who believe that technology can solve any meaningful problem is topped only by their inability to recognize the past follies of people just like them. Edited July 10, 2014 by RichardJensen Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mettech Posted July 10, 2014 Author Share Posted July 10, 2014 As noted before, the cost/benefit ratio will be more prominent in the large urban areas where the cost and time of parking is a factor. Another convenience is the possibility to select what type of car you want/need. I could select two or three different cars each day to fit my desire. Eco car for work, lux or sports car for dinner and a mini van for weekend with the family. And they do all of the driving with or without any input from me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RichardJensen Posted July 10, 2014 Share Posted July 10, 2014 (edited) As noted before, the cost/benefit ratio will be more prominent in the large urban areas where the cost and time of parking is a factor. Another convenience is the possibility to select what type of car you want/need. I could select two or three different cars each day to fit my desire. Eco car for work, lux or sports car for dinner and a mini van for weekend with the family. And they do all of the driving with or without any input from me. Oh. So the only reason why I should subscribe to this service is if I don't need it? Yep. That sounds like the tech industry I've come to know and despise. Also, if I'm being driven around in an autonomous car, please explain to me why I would want a "sport" variant? And how wonderful is that luxury car going to be when I have to sit around and wait for it? That's going to be so super awesome! "Hey honey, let's leave our cramped but oh-so-hip urban apartment and take the car service to Fabulously Expensive For No Particular Reason restaurant. You buy the reservation off of RestaurantSquatters.com, and I'll arrange for the best Lux-O-Matic 5000 to pick us up anywhere between 8:00 and 10:30. Yes, that truly sounds like heaven on earth. This idea is nothing more than a laughable solution to problems that aren't really problems. Edited July 10, 2014 by RichardJensen 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rmc523 Posted July 10, 2014 Share Posted July 10, 2014 Also, if I'm being driven around in an autonomous car, please explain to me why I would want a "sport" variant? And how wonderful is that luxury car going to be when I have to sit around and wait for it? That's going to be so super awesome! "Hey honey, let's leave our cramped but oh-so-hip urban apartment and take the car service to Fabulously Expensive For No Particular Reason restaurant. You buy the reservation off of RestaurantSquatters.com, and I'll arrange for the best Lux-O-Matic 5000 to pick us up anywhere between 8:00 and 10:30. Makes me think of the 6000 SUX from the original Robocop haha. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rmc523 Posted July 10, 2014 Share Posted July 10, 2014 (edited) Double post Edited July 10, 2014 by rmc523 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mettech Posted July 10, 2014 Author Share Posted July 10, 2014 Apparently Richard.. you will not be one of the first to sign up for this service..lol Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RichardJensen Posted July 10, 2014 Share Posted July 10, 2014 (edited) Apparently Richard.. you will not be one of the first to sign up for this service..lol Nope This is the typical 'late tech' scenario where a real problem is 'solved' by reframing it as a much smaller problem affecting a smaller (and more affluent) number of people. Edited July 10, 2014 by RichardJensen Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jpd80 Posted July 11, 2014 Share Posted July 11, 2014 (edited) This is a stupid Euro idea that some tech entrepreneurs see as the next big thing. When you look at it, a service like short term rentals of vehicles has to be logistically and commercially viable, the fact that major daily rentals haven't touched it or want a bar of this type of ad hoc business model tells me that it's at best very localized like bicycle rentals or simply a non starter in the eyes of a lot of intended users. The acid test will be if any of these geniuses are willing to self fund or do they want other people to fund this whim. I'd suggest starting at popular holiday destinations with hourly or half day rental charges and then go from there... I doubt that it will be anything more than a passing fad. Edited July 11, 2014 by jpd80 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mettech Posted July 11, 2014 Author Share Posted July 11, 2014 http://nautil.us/issue/7/waste/did-cars-save-our-cities-from-horses Interesting read.. "...Looking ahead, the current unsustainability of our automobile love won’t emerge from technological engineering, but social engineering, too. Historians Wells and Norton both view driverless cars, currently the darling of Silicon Valley, as a cosmetic upgrade on the status quo, promoted as revolutionary, but likely changing little. In a real revolution, they say, driverless cars would be one of many transportation options, along with bicycles, buses, and rail, in greener, saner, non-auto-centric future cities. Of course, the social change required to revolutionize transportation under the current rule of the car will be formidable. Habits do change, though, and so do societies. “A lot of assumptions we treat as laws of nature are inventions,” says Norton. “A lot of mental models we think can’t change, can change. The proof is that they’ve changed in the past.” Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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