The Michigan Council on Future Mobility, driverless cars, toll roads and electric vehicle charging

The guest is John Peracchio, chairman of the Michigan Council on Future Mobility, who shares insights on the Council’s work.

https://www.michigan.gov/mdot/0,4616,7-151-9623_31969_93141---,00.html

Topics include:

— The mission of the Council on Future Mobility and why the Legislature created the body in 2016.
http://www.legislature.mi.gov/(S(o3mmuho4hf5b4b1ydjjfhhaa))/mileg.aspx?page=getObject&objectName=mcl-257-665

— Connected and automated vehicles. What the future holds. Between polling in 2018 and again in early 2019, Epic-MRA saw a slight shift in people’s perceptions of automated vehicles. There is a pronounced generational divide on the topic, with elderly people being much more averse despite the view of many that automated vehicles will bring mobility and independence later in life.
https://www.michigan.gov/documents/mdot/2019_MDOT_Self-drivingCars_EpicPoll_669727_7.pdf
https://www.theseniorlist.com/blog/driverless-cars-for-seniors/

— Mobility for all imperative. Michigan has one of the oldest populations among the 50 states, with 16 percent of residents age 65 or older. Automakers in Michigan lead in developing technology that will give these people mobility option and extended freedom. https://www.worldatlas.com/articles/the-us-states-with-the-oldest-population.html
https://www.mlive.com/news/2018/01/aging_michigan_senior_citizens.html

— Toll roads. As a bill authorizing a study of tolling some Michigan roads makes its way to the Senate floor, John, a recent member of the International Bridge, Tunnel, and Turnpike Association (IBTTA), talks about the feasibility of tolling in Michigan and methods to confront social equity challenges.
http://www.legislature.mi.gov/documents/2019-2020/billanalysis/Senate/pdf/2019-SFA-0517-F.pdf

— With automakers investing more in electric vehicle technology, John talks about the need for broader charging infrastructure and addressing challenges, including range anxiety and vehicle costs. And questions persist about the disposal of batteries and the impact on the environment. By 2040, more than half of new-car sales and a third of the global fleet (equal to 559 million vehicles) is projected to be electric.
https://www.thedrive.com/news/26637/americans-cite-range-anxiety-cost-as-largest-barriers-for-new-ev-purchases-study
https://www.instituteforenergyresearch.org/renewable/the-afterlife-of-electric-vehicles-battery-recycling-and-repurposing/