General thoughts on Hybrids
SLIGHTLY off topic as I'm asking more about T(oad)Vs rather than T(ow)Vs. BUT, this is the motorhead sub-forum - engines and drive trains and MPGs and all that fun stuff. What do "we" think abou...
Forum Discussion
Groover wrote:
"PS: Car following is already here. More like 10-20ft spacing but that will still get you a 30-50% reduction in power requirements. 10yr ago I was in a semi doing that on live freeways at a conference. Biggest holdup is liability concerns. They were focused on trucks as fuel is one of the largest costs for trucking companies but they also figured it would help with crash reductions."
The liability really is a huge concern. If the car is tied to the RV then it is just another trailer and the laws are pretty clear on that. If the toad is driving itself and somebody runs into it some lawyer is going to try blame the wreck on a fault in the self driving system and he might even be right. Plus, if the toad does have a problem the RV can probably keep it under control. What the toad would do without the RV or a human driver depends on the problem and the capabilities of the self driving system.
Now if we get the point that a self driving toad can be sent off on its own to go through a drive thru, pick up a meal and catch up with the RV at a more suitable location to stop and eat that would be useful.
Honestly, the technology even now is safer but that won't stop lawyers and they can be very convincing regardless of the actual facts.
It's coming just have to work through these kinds of issues.
