AUTOMATED & ELECTRIC VEHICLES ACT 2018

 

CHARGING POINTS FOR SELF DRIVING ELECTRIC VEHICLES TRANSPORT INFRASTRUCTURE AND INSURANCE FOR AUTONOMOUS CARS

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Boris Johnson is an electric vehicle advocate

 

ELECTRIC TRUCK & VAN FEB 2020 - I think its a bit of an understatement to say that Boris Johnson has taken the UK automotive world by surprise by his announcement yesterday that the sale of petrol and diesel cars and vans will end in 2035 – five years earlier than previously announced.

 

Not only that, he’s gone even further by including hybrid vehicles which will send a shiver down the spines of one or two corporate shoulders in both the automotive and leasing fraternity.

 

Interestingly, he didn’t mention if any of the staged goals along the way have changed. For instance, the Department for Transport’s “Road to Zero” programme (essentially the government’s bible on the decarbonising of the automotive sector) mentioned a ‘2030 stage’ when it was compiled by the former Transport Secretary Chris Grayling just 18 months ago.

 

According to the document, the government wanted to see at least 50% – and as many as 70% – of new car sales and up to 40% of new van sales being ultra low emission by 2030. 

 

Of course, one of the key changes from the original goals is the inclusion of hybrids to the ban, basically meaning we are going for zero emission at tailpipe rather than low emission – a phenomenally major deviation from the course already set less than 18 months ago. 

 

So where does this leave the automotive industry and for our part the light commercial vehicle sector?
Before I answer this, let me first let you know my position on the whole issue. I am totally behind any sensible and achievable plan to de-carbonise the road transport sector; I feel we must and should aim as high as possible BUT reality must also play its part! 

 

We have to remember not every van operation is currently suitable for electrification but this will change over time, but the speed of transition and matching this to product availability will be a challenge. 

 

We also have to recognise that light commercial vehicles come second in the pecking order after passenger cars for most OEMs. I don’t know why, because often the average profit per unit is higher, but obviously the volumes are smaller (although growing disproportionately faster than passenger cars!). 

 

Inevitably vans will be competing with their passenger car cousins for batteries and that creates a problem, i.e. battery supply. This is not a vehicle issue – its basically down to a “battle for the batteries”!

 

The UK market cannot be seen isolation – it is a very large global market. Comparisons are also often drawn with Norway, but in reality this is also irrelevant because of everything from the carbonisation of their grid to the size of the market and their incentive schemes – I wish it was that simple!

 

For our country to have the ability to ban the sale of new diesel, petrol and hybrids by 2035, we will need a sea change in government attitude and more importantly financial support! 

 

Just as imperative, the European OEMs need to substantially increase their investment and capacities because selling around 3.5m zero-emission cars and vans a year in the UK within 14 years (we are already in 2020) is a brilliant goal to set – but setting a goal and providing the environment for that to be achieved is another .

 

All of us in the industry need to call the government to account if we are not given the tools to make this happen; they set the goals so should also provide the framework and financial environment to help industry achieve it!
Its going to be a bumpy and challenging 14 years, but I wouldn’t miss it for the world and I support the maxim; that its better to try and fail than never try at all, especially when failure is not an option!
By Tim Campbell

 

 

 

DOT NEWS 18 OCTOBER 2017

 

Boost for electric and driverless car industry as government drives forward green transport revolution 
Automated and Electric Vehicles Bill will mean more electric car chargepoints and enable insurance for driverless cars.

Motorway services and large petrol retailers will be required to install chargepoints for electric cars, under plans announced in the House of Commons today (18 October 2017) by Transport Minister John Hayes.

 

The Automated and Electric Vehicles Bill will increase the access and availability of chargepoints for electric cars, while also giving the government powers to make it compulsory for chargepoints to be installed across the country and enabling drivers of automated cars to be insured on UK roads


Automated vehicles have the potential to greatly reduce road traffic accidents - in 2016 85.9% of collisions causing injury involved human error, while official research estimates that the market will be worth £50 billion to the UK economy by 2035.

 

Transport Minister John Hayes said:

 

We want the UK to be the best place in the world to do business and a leading hub for modern transport technology, which is why we are introducing the Automated and Electric Vehicles Bill in Parliament and investing more than £1.2 billion in the industry.

 

This bill will aid the construction of greater infrastructure to support the growing demand for automated and electric vehicles as we embrace this technology and move into the future.

 

Drivers of electric vehicles will be able to easily locate and charge at any chargepoint, using information from sat navs or mobile apps, regardless of the vehicle make or model - making running an electric vehicle even easier. All chargepoints will have to be ‘smart’, meaning they can interact with the grid in order to manage demand for electricity across the country.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Roads Minister Jesse Norman said:

 

Automated and electric vehicles will help improve air quality, cut congestion, boost safety and create thousands of skilled jobs in the UK. We have already supported the purchase of 115,000 ultra-low emission cars and there are already more than 11,500 publicly available chargepoints, but the demand continues to grow as more people purchase electric vehicles to cut fuel costs and boost the environment.

 

Jesse Norman will also announce further funding for local authorities at the Smarter Travel Conference in Milton Keynes on Thursday (19 October 2017) to fund install chargepoints in residential areas where cars are parked on the street.

 

Steve Gooding, Director of the RAC Foundation said:

 

We are pleased to see the provisions of the Automated and Electric Vehicles Bill re-starting their passage through the Parliamentary process

 

It is clear that government needs to do more to accelerate the take-up of electric vehicles, tackling the issues that are currently persuading motorists to stick with conventional fuels, as well as paving the way for autonomy

 

The test, though, will be how effectively those powers are exercised

 

All drivers of automated vehicles will be required to be insured and victims of collisions involving an automated vehicle will have quick and easy access to compensation, in line with existing insurance practices.

 

James Dalton, ABI:

 

Insurers wholeheartedly support the development of automated vehicles, as they have the potential to significantly reduce the large number of road accidents caused by driver error. We support the approach the government has taken in the bill, as this will give the industry time to prepare for the commercial rollout of fully automated driving technology.

 

The bill will receive its first reading in the House of Commons today.

 

Roads media enquiries 020 7944 3021 

 

 

DOT boost for driverless cars and electric vehicles charging points

 

DOT UK - This legislation is part of the Government’s industrial strategy to promote the development and deployment of both automated and electric vehicles and is in line with policies on climate change. Note that an automated vehicle (AV) does not have to be electrically powered and an electrically powered vehicle does not have to be an AV.

 

The purpose of this legislation is both to amend the existing compulsory third party insurance framework by extending it to cover the use of automated vehicles and deal with electric and hydrogen powered vehicle charging infrastructure.

 

 

 

UK MAP - Draft infrastructure networked grid for the UK to kick-start EV service station building, aiming for a low carbon society that is sustainable and climate friendly by 2050 to comply with the targets set by the Climate Change Act 2008. This map is simplified and includes the Republic of Ireland for practical reasons. Supplied by and used with permission of Bluebird Energy Systems. If we use just the intersections as likely locations that would mean installing 60+ stations, that could recharge more than the 14,000 charge points in the UK as of January of 2018. Another 1,800 such stations at strategic locations could service all 25,000,000 million vehicles in the United Kingdom. Optimistic, but you have to start somewhere when conceptualizing. The UK currently (May 2021) only has 14 hydrogen refueling points.



DOT NEWS 
19 JULY 2018

 

New powers to kick-start the rollout of electric chargepoints across the nation. The new laws will improve consumer confidence in charging electric vehicles and modernise insurance rules.

 

The UK took a major step in it's electric vehicle revolution today (19 July 2018) when the Automated and Electric Vehicles Act passed through Parliament.

 

The act is a significant step towards improving air quality, cutting congestion, boosting road safety and the creation of thousands of jobs across the UK.

 

The AEV Act will see a massive improvement in electric chargepoint availability; giving the government new powers to ensure motorway services are upgraded with plenty of points, and even allowing mayors to request installations at large fuel retailers in their areas.

 

The new laws will improve consumer confidence in charging their vehicles by:

 

- making sure that public chargepoints are compatible with all vehicles

 

- standardising how they are paid for

 

- setting standards for reliability

 

 

 

 

1:20th scale model of an electric truck service station using instant cartridge refuelling

 

MODEL 1:20 - April 6 2020, a model of the service station began construction, shown here with two Mercedes articulated container trucks inside. We are using plywood for the building and some of the working parts - that cannot be shown due to patent law prohibiting prior publication. The Automated & Electric Vehicle Act 2018, makes it law in England that provision must be made for charging and refuelling of electric vehicles at service stops. This system would more accurately be described as a refuelling point - since the energy exchanges for trucks and cars are virtually instant. The building can be a quarter this size for city locations where space is limited. But for load levelling purposes, the larger the capacity of stored electricity, the more efficient the grid. Copyright photograph © 6 April 2020, Cleaner Ocean Foundation. At the moment such development is not supported by funding from the Department for Transport (Innovate UK) or Horizon Europe. The Cleaner Ocean Foundation is trickle funding model build from directors loans. Meaning very slow progress, until funding rules evolve to recognise SMEs as special cases. This project could have been completed by now with appropriate nurturing.

 

 

 

Ryan leads the way, in the making of a 1:20 scale model of the SmartNet service stations of the future

 

MODEL 1:20 - May 2021, the model is making slow progress. It will demonstrate how unmanned robo-trucks and taxis - hydrogen and battery EVs - could be serviced without the need for human intervention. A (very) young volunteer is helping to build this unit in his spare time, while learning about coding in school. The workings will be controlled by micro computers at this scale, such as Arduino or Raspberry Pi, but will need geodata using 5G satcoms for unmanned vehicles.

 

 

 

 

Jesse Norman, Roads Minister, said:

 

The UK is becoming a world leader in the roll-out of low-emission transport. Today we have passed a significant milestone in that journey.

 

The increasing automation of our cars is transforming the way we drive, and the government is steadily updating our laws in order to prepare for the future.

 

This act will ensure that the UK’s infrastructure and insurance system is ready for the biggest transport revolution in a century.

 

The act will also bring automated vehicle insurance in line with longstanding motor insurance practice, ensuring that motorists are covered both when they are driving, and when the driver has legitimately handed control to the vehicle.

 

The measures in the new act form part of the government’s recently launched Road to Zero strategy. The strategy sets the stage for the biggest technology advancement to hit UK roads since the invention of the combustion engine.

 

The UK will also be hosting the world’s first Zero Emission Vehicle summit later this year in Birmingham, promoting the UK as a world leader for investment in and uptake of zero emission vehicles.

 

 

UK CABINET POLICY MAKERS - APRIL 2020

 

 

 

Boris Johnson

Prime Minister

 

Rishi Sunack, MP Richmond, Yorkshire

 

Rishi Sunack

Chancellor Exchequer

 

 Alok Sharma MP, Reading West

 

Alok Sharma

Business & Energy

 

Grant Shapps MP Welwyn Hatfield

 

Grant Shapps

Transport

 

George Eustice

 

 George Eustice

Environment

 

 Robert Jenrick

 

Robert Jenrick

Housing, Local Gov.

 

 

SPONSORS OF THE BILL


Chris Grayling and Baroness Sugg - Transport 

 

 

 

WHO JUNE 2019 - A newly installed solar power plant in the Gaza Strip, Occupied Palestinian Territory (OPT), will reduce Nasser Hospital’s reliance on donated fuel and, by providing life-saving interventions, help build resilience. This is according to the World Health Organization (WHO).

 

 

 

 

THE AUTOMATED and ELECTRIC VEHICLES ACT 2018

 

Introductory Text

PART 1 Automated vehicles: liability of insurers etc

1.Listing of automated vehicles by the Secretary of State
2.Liability of insurers etc where accident caused by automated vehicle
3.Contributory negligence etc
4.Accident resulting from unauthorised software alterations or failure to update software
5.Right of insurer etc to claim against person responsible for accident
6.Application of enactments
7.Report by Secretary of State on operation of this Part
8.Interpretation

PART 2 Electric vehicles: charging

Introductory - 9.Definitions

Requirements and prohibitions

10.Public charging or refuelling points: access, standards and connection
11.Large fuel retailers etc: provision of public charging or refuelling points
12.Duty to consider making regulations under section 11(1)(a) on request by elected mayor
13.Information for users of public charging or refuelling points
14.Transmission of data relating to charge points
15.Smart charge points

General and supplementary

16.Enforcement
17.Exceptions
18.Regulations
19.Report by Secretary of State on operation of this Part

PART 3 Miscellaneous and general

20.Minor and consequential amendments
21.Commencement
22.Extent
23.Short title

SCHEDULE MINOR AND CONSEQUENTIAL AMENDMENTS

 

 

 

 

 

 

THE AUTOMATED and ELECTRIC VEHICLES ACT 2018

2018 CHAPTER 18 [19th July 2018]

An Act to make provision about automated vehicles and electric vehicles.

Be it enacted by the Queen’s most Excellent Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Lords Spiritual and Temporal, and Commons, in this present Parliament assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:— 

Introductory Text

PART 1 Automated vehicles: liability of insurers etc

1 Listing of automated vehicles by the Secretary of State

(1) The Secretary of State must prepare, and keep up to date, a list of all motor vehicles that—
(a) are in the Secretary of State’s opinion designed or adapted to be capable, in at least some circumstances or situations, of safely driving themselves, and
(b) may lawfully be used when driving themselves, in at least some circumstances or situations, on roads or other public places in Great Britain.
(2) The list may identify vehicles —
(a) by type,
(b) by reference to information recorded in a registration document issued under regulations made under section 22 of the Vehicle Excise and Registration Act 1994, or
(c) in some other way.
(3) The Secretary of State must publish the list when it is first prepared and each time it is revised.
(4) In this Part “automated vehicle” means a vehicle listed under this section.

2 Liability of insurers etc where accident caused by automated vehicle

(1) Where —
(a) an accident is caused by an automated vehicle when driving itself on a road or other public place in Great Britain,
(b) the vehicle is insured at the time of the accident, and
(c) an insured person or any other person suffers damage as a result of the accident, the insurer is liable for that damage.
(2) Where —
(a) an accident is caused by an automated vehicle when driving itself on a road or other public place in Great Britain,
(b) the vehicle is not insured at the time of the accident,
(c) section 143 of the Road Traffic Act 1988 (users of motor vehicles to be insured or secured against third-party risks) does not apply to the vehicle at that time —
(i) because of section 144(2) of that Act (exemption for public bodies etc), or
(ii) because the vehicle is in the public service of the Crown, and
(d) a person suffers damage as a result of the accident, the owner of the vehicle is liable for that damage.
(3) In this Part “damage” means death or personal injury, and any damage to property other than —
(a) the automated vehicle,
(b) goods carried for hire or reward in or on that vehicle or in or on any trailer (whether or not coupled) drawn by it, or
(c) property in the custody, or under the control, of —
(i) the insured person (where subsection (1) applies), or
(ii) the person in charge of the automated vehicle at the time of the accident (where subsection (2) applies).
(4) In respect of damage to property caused by, or arising out of, any one accident involving an automated vehicle, the amount of the liability under this section of the insurer or owner of the vehicle is limited to the amount for the time being specified in section 145(4)(b) of the Road Traffic Act 1988 (limit on compulsory insurance for property damage).
(5) This section has effect subject to section 3.
(6) Except as provided by section 4, liability under this section may not be limited or excluded by a term of an insurance policy or in any other way.
(7) The imposition by this section of liability on the insurer or vehicle owner does not affect any other person’s liability in respect of the accident.

3 Contributory negligence etc

(1) Where —
(a) an insurer or vehicle owner is liable under section 2 to a person (“the injured party”) in respect of an accident, and
(b) the accident, or the damage resulting from it, was to any extent caused by the injured party, the amount of the liability is subject to whatever reduction under the Law Reform (Contributory Negligence) Act 1945 would apply to a claim in respect of the accident brought by the injured party against a person other than the insurer or vehicle owner.
(2) The insurer or owner of an automated vehicle is not liable under section 2 to the person in charge of the vehicle where the accident that it caused was wholly due to the person’s negligence in allowing the vehicle to begin driving itself when it was not appropriate to do so.

4 Accident resulting from unauthorised software alterations or failure to update software

(1) An insurance policy in respect of an automated vehicle may exclude or limit the insurer’s liability under section 2(1) for damage suffered by an insured person arising from an accident occurring as a direct result of —
(a) software alterations made by the insured person, or with the insured person’s knowledge, that are prohibited under the policy, or
(b) a failure to install safety-critical software updates that the insured person knows, or ought reasonably to know, are safety-critical.
(2) But as regards liability for damage suffered by an insured person who is not the holder of the policy, subsection (1)(a) applies only in relation to software alterations which, at the time of the accident, the person knows are prohibited under the policy.
(3) Subsection (4) applies where an amount is paid by an insurer under section 2(1) in respect of damage suffered, as a result of an accident, by someone who is not insured under the policy in question.
(4) If the accident occurred as a direct result of —
(a) software alterations made by an insured person, or with an insured person’s knowledge, that were prohibited under the policy, or
(b) a failure to install safety-critical software updates that an insured person knew, or ought reasonably to have known, were safety-critical, the amount paid by the insurer is recoverable from that person to the extent provided for by the policy.
(5) But as regards recovery from an insured person who is not the holder of the policy, subsection (4)(a) applies only in relation to software alterations which, at the time of the accident, the person knew were prohibited under the policy.
(6) For the purposes of this section —
(a) “software alterations” and “software updates”, in relation to an automated vehicle, mean (respectively) alterations and updates to the vehicle’s software;
(b) software updates are “safety-critical” if it would be unsafe to use the vehicle in question without the updates being installed.

5 Right of insurer etc to claim against person responsible for accident

(1) Where —
(a) section 2 imposes on an insurer, or the owner of a vehicle, liability to a person who has suffered damage as a result of an accident (“the injured party”), and
(b) the amount of the insurer’s or vehicle owner’s liability to the injured party in respect of the accident (including any liability not imposed by section 2) is settled, any other person liable to the injured party in respect of the accident is under the same liability to the insurer or vehicle owner.
(2) For the purposes of this section, the amount of the insurer’s or vehicle owner’s liability is settled when it is established —
(a) by a judgment or decree,
(b) by an award in arbitral proceedings or by an arbitration, or
(c) by an enforceable agreement.
(3) If the amount recovered under this section by the insurer or vehicle owner exceeds the amount which that person has agreed or been ordered to pay to the injured party (ignoring so much of either amount as represents interest), the insurer or vehicle owner is liable to the injured party for the difference.
(4) Nothing in this section allows the insurer or vehicle owner and the injured party, between them, to recover from any person more than the amount of that person’s liability to the injured party.
(5) For the purposes of —
(a) section 10A of the Limitation Act 1980 (special time limit for actions by insurers etc in respect of automated vehicles), or
(b) section 18ZC of the Prescription and Limitation (Scotland) Act 1973 (actions under this section), the right of action that an insurer or vehicle owner has by virtue of this section accrues at the time of the settlement referred to in subsection (1)(b).


6 Application of enactments

(1) Any damage for which a person is liable under section 2 is treated as if it had been caused —
(a) for the purposes of the Fatal Accidents Act 1976, by that person’s wrongful act, neglect or default;
(b) for the purposes of sections 3 to 6 of the Damages (Scotland) Act 2011 (asp 7) (rights of relatives of a deceased), by that person’s act or omission;
(c) for the purposes of Part 2 of the Administration of Justice Act 1982 (damages for personal injuries, etc Scotland), by an act or omission giving rise to liability in that person to pay damages.
(2) Section 1 of the Congenital Disabilities (Civil Liability) Act 1976 (“the 1976 Act”) has effect for the purposes of section 2 of this Act —
(a) as if a person were answerable to a child in respect of an accident caused by an automated vehicle when driving itself if the person—
(i) is or has been liable under section 2 in respect of any effect of the accident on a parent of the child, or
(ii) would be so liable if the accident caused a parent of the child to suffer damage;
(b) as if the provisions of this Part relating to liability under section 2 applied in relation to liability by virtue of paragraph (a) above under section 1 of the 1976 Act;
(c) as if subsection (6) of section 1 of the 1976 Act (exclusion of liability) were omitted.
(3) For the purposes of section 3(1), the Law Reform (Contributory Negligence) Act 1945 and section 5 of the Fatal Accidents Act 1976 (contributory negligence) have effect as if the behaviour of the automated vehicle were the fault of the person made liable for the damage by section 2 of this Act.
(4) Liability under section 2 is treated as liability in tort or, in Scotland, delict for the purposes of any enactment conferring jurisdiction on a court with respect to any matter.
(5) An insurer or vehicle owner who has a right of action against a person by virtue of section 5 does not have a right to recover contribution from that person under the Civil Liability (Contribution) Act 1978 or under section 3 of the Law Reform (Miscellaneous Provisions) (Scotland) Act 1940.

7 Report by Secretary of State on operation of this Part

(1) The Secretary of State must prepare a report assessing —
(a) the impact and effectiveness of section 1;
(b) the extent to which the provisions of this Part ensure that appropriate insurance or other arrangements are made in respect of vehicles that are capable of safely driving themselves.
(2) The report must be laid before Parliament no later than two years after the first publication of the list under section 1.

8 Interpretation

(1) For the purposes of this Part —
(a) a vehicle is “driving itself” if it is operating in a mode in which it is not being controlled, and does not need to be monitored, by an individual;
(b) a vehicle is “insured” if there is in force in relation to the use of the vehicle on a road or other public place in Great Britain a policy of insurance that satisfies the conditions in section 145 of the Road Traffic Act 1988.

(2) In this Part —
“automated vehicle” has the meaning given by section 1(4);
“damage” has the meaning given by section 2(3);
“insured person”, in relation to an insured vehicle, means any person whose use of the vehicle is covered by the policy in question;
“insurer”, in relation to an insured vehicle, means the insurer under that policy;
“road” has the same meaning as in the Road Traffic Act 1988 (see section 192(1) of that Act).

(3) In this Part —
(a) a reference to an accident includes a reference to two or more causally related accidents;
(b) a reference to an accident caused by an automated vehicle includes a reference to an accident that is partly caused by an automated vehicle.

PART 2 ELECTRIC VEHICLES: CHARGING

Introductory

9. Definitions

(1) For the purposes of this Part —

(a) “charge point” means a device intended for charging a vehicle that is capable of being propelled by electrical power derived from a storage battery (or for discharging electricity stored in such a vehicle);
(b) “hydrogen refuelling point” means a device intended for refuelling a vehicle that is capable of being propelled by electrical power derived from hydrogen;
(c) a charge point or a hydrogen refuelling point is a “public charging or refuelling point” if it is provided for use by members of the general public.

(2) In this Part —

“operator”, in relation to a public charging or refuelling point, has the meaning given by regulations; 

“prescribed” means prescribed by regulations; 

“vehicle” means a vehicle that is intended or adapted for use on roads.


Requirements and prohibitions

10. Public charging or refuelling points: access, standards and connection

(1) Regulations may impose requirements on operators of public charging or refuelling points in connection with —

(a) the method of payment or other way by which access to the use of public charging or refuelling points may be obtained;
(b) performance, maintenance and availability of public charging or refuelling points;

(c) the components of public charging or refuelling points that provide the means by which vehicles connect to such points (“connecting components”).

(2) Regulations under subsection (1)(a) may require operators —

(a) to provide a prescribed method of payment or verification for obtaining access to the use of public charging or refuelling points;

(b) to co-operate with each other for the purposes of a requirement imposed by the regulations (for example, by sharing facilities or information);

(c) to take prescribed steps for the purposes of such a requirement (for example, to provide information to a prescribed person).

(3) Regulations under subsection (1)(b) may, for example, require the operator of a public charging or refuelling point to ensure that the point complies with prescribed requirements (which may include technical specifications).

(4) Regulations under subsection (1)(c) may, for example, require the operator of a public charging or refuelling point to ensure that its connecting components comply with prescribed requirements (which may include technical specifications for connecting components or any related equipment).


11. Large fuel retailers etc: provision of public charging or refuelling points

(1) Regulations may impose requirements on —

(a) large fuel retailers falling within a prescribed description, or
(b) service area operators falling within a prescribed description,
in connection with the provision on their premises of public charging or refuelling points.

(2) Regulations under subsection (1) may, for example —

(a) require large fuel retailers or service area operators to provide public charging or refuelling points;
(b) require public charging or refuelling points to be available for use at prescribed times;
(c) require services or facilities prescribed by the regulations to be provided in connection with public charging or refuelling points.

(3) In this section “large fuel retailer” and “service area operator” have the meaning given by regulations.


12. Duty to consider making regulations under section 11 (1) (a) on request by elected mayor

(1) The Secretary of State must consider making section 11(1)(a) regulations in relation to the whole or part of a relevant area if —

(a) the mayor for the relevant area makes a request for such regulations to be made,
(b) conditions 1 to 3 are met, and
(c) the Secretary of State considers that the mayor has complied with any prescribed requirements before making the request.

(2) “Section 11(1)(a) regulations” means regulations under section 11(1) that impose requirements on large fuel retailers within section 11(1)(a).

(3) Condition 1 is that the Secretary of State is satisfied that, before making the request, the mayor —

(a) published proposals for section 11(1)(a) regulations to be made in relation to the whole or part of the relevant area, an
(b) consulted —

(i) each local authority any part of whose area falls within the relevant area or, if the request relates to part of the relevant area, within that part,
(ii) persons who would be likely to be subject to requirements under the regulations (if made), and
(iii) such other persons as the mayor considers appropriate, in relation to the published proposals.

(4) Condition 2 is that the mayor has given the Secretary of State a summary of the responses to the consultation referred to in subsection (3)(b).

(5) Condition 3 is that regulations have been made under section 11(3) in relation to the meaning of “large fuel retailer”.

(6) If the Secretary of State decides not to make section 11(1)(a) regulations in response to the mayor’s request, the Secretary of State must notify the mayor of the decision and the reasons for it.

(7) For the purposes of this section —

(a) “relevant area” means the area of a combined authority or Greater London;
(b) the mayor for a relevant area is —

(i) in the case of the area of a combined authority, the mayor for the area elected in accordance with section 107A(2) of the 2009 Act;
(ii) in the case of Greater London, the Mayor of London.

(8) In this section —

“the 2009 Act” means the Local Democracy, Economic Development and Construction Act 2009; 

“combined authority” means a combined authority established under section 103(1) of the 2009 Act; 

“large fuel retailer” has the same meaning as in section 11; 

“local authority” means — 

(a) a district council
(b) a county council, or 
(c) a London borough council. 


13. Information for users of public charging or refuelling points

(1) Regulations may require operators of public charging or refuelling points to make available prescribed information relating to such points.

(2) The information that may be prescribed under subsection (1) in relation to a public charging or refuelling point is such information as the Secretary of State considers likely to be useful to users or potential users of the point, for example information about —

(a) the location of the point and its operating hours,
(b) available charging or refuelling options,
(c) the cost of obtaining access to the use of the point,
(d) the method of payment or other way by which access to the use of the point may be obtained,
(e) means of connection to the point,
(f) whether the point is in working order, and
(g) whether the point is in use.

(3) The regulations may make provision —

(a) about when, how, to whom and in what form the information is to be made available;
(b) for the information to be made available without restrictions on its use and disclosure.
(4) The regulations may be made so as to have effect for a prescribed period.

14. Transmission of data relating to charge points

(1) Regulations may make provision for the purpose of ensuring the ongoing transmission of charge point data to a prescribed person or to persons of a prescribed description.

(2) “Charge point data” means prescribed information relating to a charge point (which may include information about energy consumption and geographical information).

(3) Regulations under subsection (1) may impose requirements —

(a) on operators of charge points that are provided for use by members of the general public, and

(b) in relation to charge points that are not provided as mentioned in paragraph (a), on prescribed persons or persons of a prescribed description (subject to subsection (4)).

(4) Regulations under subsection (1) may not impose requirements on owners or occupiers of domestic premises.

(5) Regulations under subsection (1) may make provision about when, how and in what form charge point data is to be transmitted.


15. Smart charge points

(1) Regulations may provide that a person must not sell or install a charge point unless it complies with prescribed requirements.

(2) The requirements that may be imposed under subsection (1) include requirements relating to the technical specifications for a charge point, including for example the ability of a charge point —

(a) to receive and process information provided by a prescribed person,
(b) to react to information of a kind mentioned in paragraph (a) (for example, by adjusting the rate of charging or discharging),
(c) to transmit information (including geographical information) to a prescribed person,
(d) to monitor and record energy consumption,
(e) to comply with requirements relating to security,
(f) to achieve energy efficiency, and
(g) to be accessed remotely.

(3) Regulations under subsection (1) may also prescribe requirements to be met in relation to the sale or installation of a charge point.

(4) In this section —

(a) “sell” includes let on hire, lend or give;
(b) references to a prescribed person include references to —

(i) a person of a prescribed description, and
(ii) a device operated by one or more prescribed persons.

General and supplementary


16. Enforcement

(1) Regulations under this Part may make provision for enforcement in connection with a contravention of a requirement or prohibition imposed by the regulations.

(2) Regulations made by virtue of subsection (1) may, for example —

(a) contain provision for determining whether there has been a failure to comply with a requirement or prohibition;
(b) provide for the imposition of a financial penalty (and for the payment of such a penalty into the Consolidated Fund);
(c) set out the procedure to be followed in imposing a penalty;
(d) make provision about the amount of a penalty;
(e) make provision about the enforcement of a penalty;
(f) provide for a right of appeal against the imposition of a penalty;
(g) provide for a determination for the purposes of the regulations to be made by the Secretary of State or a prescribed person.

(3) The provision referred to in subsection (2)(a) includes —

(a) provision authorising a prescribed person to enter any land in accordance with the regulations;
(b) provision for the inspection or testing of any thing by a prescribed person, which may for example include provision about —

(i) the production of documents or other things,
(ii) the provision of information,
(iii) the making of photographs or copies, and
(iv) the removal of any thing for the purpose of inspection or testing and its retention for that purpose for a reasonable period.


17. Exceptions

(1) Regulations under this Part may create exceptions from any requirement or prohibition imposed by the regulations.

(2) An exception may be created in relation to a prescribed description of persons or devices.

(3) The Secretary of State may determine that a requirement or prohibition imposed by regulations under this Part does not apply in relation to a person or device specified in the determination.

(4) The Secretary of State must publish a determination made under subsection (3).


18. Regulations

(1) Regulations under this Part —

(a) may make different provision for different purposes or different areas;
(b) may make supplemental, incidental, transitional or consequential provision.

(2) A power to make regulations under this Part is exercisable by the Secretary of State by statutory instrument.

(3) Before making regulations under this Part, the Secretary of State must consult such persons as the Secretary of State considers appropriate. 

(4) Subject to subsection (7), where —

(a) a statutory instrument contains regulations under this Part, and
(b) any of those regulations are the first regulations under a provision of this Part,
the instrument may not be made unless a draft of it has been laid before Parliament and approved by a resolution of each House. 

(5) Where —

(a) a statutory instrument contains regulations under section 11 (large fuel retailers etc), and
(b) the regulations amend the definition of “large fuel retailer” or “service area operator”,
the instrument containing the regulations may not be made unless a draft of it has been laid before Parliament and approved by a resolution of each House. 

(6) A statutory instrument containing regulations under this Part none of which are —

(a) the first regulations under a provision of this Part, or
(b) regulations to which subsection (5) applies,
is subject to annulment in pursuance of a resolution of either House of Parliament

(7) Where regulations contain only provision made by virtue of —

(a) section 10(3) or (4) (prescribed requirements for public charging or refuelling points or for connecting components), or
(b) section 15 (prescribed requirements for charge points),
the instrument containing the regulations is subject to annulment in pursuance of a resolution of either House of Parliament. 

(8) If a draft of a statutory instrument containing relevant section 11(1)(a) regulations would, apart from this subsection, be treated for the purposes of the standing orders of either House of Parliament as a hybrid instrument, it is to proceed in that House as if it were not such an instrument.

(9) In subsection (8) “relevant section 11(1)(a) regulations” means regulations under section 11(1)(a) that are made pursuant to section 12 (duty to consider making regulations under section 11(1)(a) on request by elected mayor).


19. Report by Secretary of State on operation of this Part

(1) The Secretary of State must, in respect of each reporting period, prepare a report assessing —
(a) the impact and effectiveness of regulations made under this Part;
(b) the need for regulations to be made under this Part during subsequent reporting periods.

(2) Each report must be laid before Parliament after the end of the reporting period to which it relates.

(3) The first reporting period is the period of two years beginning with the day on which this Act is passed.

(4) Each subsequent period of 12 months after the first reporting period is a reporting period.


PART 3 Miscellaneous and general

20 Minor and consequential amendments


(1) The Schedule (minor and consequential amendments) has effect.
(2) The Secretary of State may by regulations make provision that is consequential on any provision made by this Act.
(3) The power to make regulations under this section is exercisable by statutory instrument.
(4) Regulations under this section may amend any enactment passed or made before this Act or in the same Session.
(5) A statutory instrument containing regulations under this section any of which amend primary legislation may not be made unless a draft of the instrument has been laid before Parliament and approved by a resolution of each House.
(6) A statutory instrument containing regulations under this section none of which amends primary legislation is subject to annulment in pursuance of a resolution of either House of Parliament.
(7) In this section —
“amend” includes repeal or revoke;
“primary legislation” means —
(a) an Act of Parliament;
(b) an Act of the Scottish Parliament;
(c) an Act or Measure of the National Assembly for Wales;
(d) Northern Ireland legislation.

21 Commencement

(1) This Act comes into force on whatever day or days the Secretary of State appoints by regulations.
(2) Subsection (1) does not apply to the following provisions of this Act (which come into force on the day on which this Act is passed)—
(a) section 20(2) to (7);
(b) this section;
(c) sections 22 and 23.
(3) The power to make regulations under this section is exercisable by statutory instrument.
(4) Regulations under this section—
(a) may appoint different days for different purposes or different areas;
(b) may make transitional, transitory or saving provision.

22 Extent

(1) Part 1 extends to England and Wales and Scotland.
(2) Part 2 extends to England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.
(3) An amendment made by the Schedule has the same extent as the provision to which it relates.

23 Short title

This Act may be cited as the Automated and Electric Vehicles Act 2018.



SCHEDULE of MINOR AND CONSEQUENTIAL AMENDMENTS

Prescription and Limitation (Scotland) Act 1973 (c. 52)

1 In section 17 of the Prescription and Limitation (Scotland) Act 1973 (actions in respect of personal injuries not resulting in death), after subsection (1) insert —
“(1A) This section does not apply to an action of damages in respect of personal injuries to which section 18ZA applies.”

2 In section 18 of that Act (actions where death has resulted from personal injuries), after subsection (1) insert —

“(1A) This section does not apply to an action of damages in respect of personal injuries or death to which section 18ZA applies.”

3 After that section insert —

“18ZA Actions under section 2 of the Automated and Electric Vehicles Act 2018

(1) This section applies to an action of damages under section 2 of the 2018 Act (liability of insurers etc where accident caused by automated vehicle).
(2) An action may not be brought after the expiry of the period of 3 years beginning with —
(a) the date of the accident mentioned in subsection (1) or (as the case may be) subsection (2) of that section, or
(b) where subsection (3) applies, the date on which the person who sustained the injuries first became aware of the facts mentioned in subsection (4) (if later).
(3) This subsection applies where the damages claimed consist of or include damages in respect of personal injuries (to the pursuer or any other person).
(4) The facts are —
(a) that the injury in question was significant;
(b) that the injury was attributable in whole or in part to an accident caused by an automated vehicle when driving itself; and
(c) the identity of the insurer of the vehicle (in the case of an action under section 2(1) of the 2018 Act) or the owner of the vehicle (in the case of an action under section 2(2) of that Act).
(5) Expressions used in subsection (4) that are defined for the purposes of Part 1 of the 2018 Act have the same meaning in that subsection as in that Part.
(6) In the computation of the period specified in subsection (2) above any time during which the person who sustained the injuries was under legal disability by reason of nonage or unsoundness of mind is to be disregarded.
(7) If a person injured in the accident dies before the expiry of the period mentioned in subsection (2) above, an action may not be brought after the expiry of the period of 3 years beginning with —
(a) the date of death of the person, or
(b) where subsection (3) applies, the date on which the pursuer first became aware of the facts mentioned in subsection (4) (if later).
(8) Where an action has not been brought before the expiry of the period mentioned in subsection (2) above and the person subsequently dies in consequence of injuries sustained in the accident, an action may not be brought in respect of those injuries or that death.
(9) Subsection (10) applies if a person injured in the accident dies and the person seeking to bring the action is a relative of the deceased.
(10) In the computation of the period specified in subsection (7) any time during which the relative was under legal disability by reason of nonage or unsoundness of mind is to be disregarded.
(11) In this section —
“the 2018 Act” means the Automated and Electric Vehicles Act 2018;
“relative” has the same meaning as in the Damages (Scotland) Act 2011.

18ZB Section 18ZA: extension of limitation periods

(1) Subsection (2) applies where a person would be entitled, but for section 18ZA, to bring an action other than one in which the damages claimed are confined to damages for loss of or damage to property.
(2) The court may, if it seems to it equitable to do so, allow the person to bring the action despite that section.

18ZC Actions under section 5 of the Automated and Electric Vehicles Act 2018

(1) Subsection (2) applies where, by virtue of section 5 of the Automated and Electric Vehicles Act 2018 (right of insurer etc to claim against person responsible for accident), an insurer or vehicle owner becomes entitled to bring an action against any person.
(2) The action may not be brought after the expiry of the period of 2 years beginning with the date on which the right of action accrued (under subsection (5) of that section).”
4 In section 19CA of that Act (interruption of limitation period: arbitration), in subsection (1), after “18(2),” insert “18ZA(2) or (7), 18ZC(2),”.

5 In section 19F of that Act (extension of limitation periods: cross-border mediation), in subsection (1), after “18,” insert “18ZA, 18ZC,”.

6 In section 22 of that Act (interpretation of Part 2 and supplementary provisions), in subsection (2) —

(a) for “or 18A” substitute “, 18A or 18ZA”;
(b) after “the said section 18A” insert “or subsection (3) or (7)(b) of the said section 18ZA”.

7 In Schedule 1 to that Act (obligations affected by prescriptive periods of 5 years under section 6), in paragraph 2, after sub-paragraph (g) insert—

“(ga) to any obligation to make reparation arising from liability under section 2 of the Automated and Electric Vehicles Act 2018 (liability of insurer etc. where accident caused by automated vehicle);”.”.


Limitation Act 1980 (c. 58)

8 In section 9 of the Limitation Act 1980 (time limit for actions for sums recoverable by statute), in subsection (2), after “section 10” insert “or 10A”.

9 After section 10 of that Act insert—

“10A Special time limit for actions by insurers etc in respect of automated vehicles

(1) Where by virtue of section 5 of the Automated and Electric Vehicles Act 2018 an insurer or vehicle owner becomes entitled to bring an action against any person, the action shall not be brought after the expiration of two years from the date on which the right of action accrued (under subsection (5) of that section).
(2) An action referred to in subsection (1) shall be one to which sections 32, 33A and 35 of this Act apply, but otherwise Parts 2 and 3 of this Act (except sections 37 and 38) shall not apply for the purposes of this section.”


10 In the italic heading before section 11 of that Act, after “personal injuries or death” insert “etc”.

11 After section 11A of that Act insert —

“11B Actions against insurers etc of automated vehicles
(1) None of the time limits given in the preceding provisions of this Act shall apply to an action for damages under section 2 of the Automated and Electric Vehicles Act 2018 (liability of insurer etc where accident caused by automated vehicle). But this subsection does not affect the application of section 5A of this Act.
(2) An action for damages against an insurer under subsection (1) of section 2 of the Automated and Electric Vehicles Act 2018 (including an action by an insured person under a contract of insurance in respect of the insurer’s obligations under that section) shall not be brought after the expiration of the period of three years from —
(a) the date of the accident referred to in that subsection; or
(b) where subsection (3) below applies, the date of knowledge of the person injured (if later).
(3) This subsection applies where the damages claimed consist of or include damages in respect of personal injuries (to the claimant or any other person).
(4) An action for damages against the owner of a vehicle under subsection (2) of that section shall not be brought after the expiration of the period of three years from —
(a) the date of the accident referred to in that subsection; or
(b) where subsection (3) above applies, the date of knowledge of the person injured (if later).
(5) If a person injured in the accident dies before the expiration of the period mentioned in subsection (2) or (4) above, the period applicable as respects the cause of action surviving for the benefit of the person’s estate by virtue of section 1 of the Law Reform (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1934 shall be three years from —
(a) the date of death; or
(b) where subsection (3) above applies, the date of the personal representative’s knowledge (if later).
(6) If there is more than one personal representative, and their dates of knowledge are different, subsection (5)(b) above shall be read as referring to the earliest of those dates.
(7) In this section “personal representative” has the same meaning as in section 11 of this Act.”

12 In section 12 of that Act (special time limit for actions under Fatal Accidents legislation), in subsection (1), for “or 11A” substitute “, 11A or 11B”.

13 (1) Section 14 of that Act (definition of date of knowledge for purposes of sections 11 and 12) is amended as follows.

(2) In the heading, for “sections 11 and 12” substitute “sections 11 to 12”.
(3) In subsection (1), for “subsection (1A)” substitute “subsections (1A) and (1B)”.
(4) After subsection (1A) insert —
“(1B) In section 11B of this Act and in section 12 of this Act so far as that section applies to an action by virtue of section 6(1)(a) of the Automated and Electric Vehicles Act 2018 (“the 2018 Act”) (death caused by automated vehicle) references to a person’s date of knowledge are references to the date on which he first had knowledge of the following facts —
(a) that the injury in question was significant; and
(b) that the injury was attributable in whole or in part to an accident caused by an automated vehicle when driving itself; and
(c) the identity of the insurer of the vehicle (in the case of an action under section 2(1) of the 2018 Act) or the owner of the vehicle (in the case of an action under section 2(2) of that Act).

Expressions used in this subsection that are defined for the purposes of Part 1 of the 2018 Act have the same meaning in this subsection as in that Part.”

14 In section 28 of that Act (extension of limitation period in case of disability), in subsection (6), after “section 11” insert “, 11B”.

15 (1) Section 32 of that Act (postponement of limitation period in case of concealment etc) is amended as follows.
(2) In subsection (1), for “and (4A)” substitute “, (4A) and (4B)”.
(3) After subsection (4A) insert —
“(4B) Subsection (1) above shall not apply in relation to the time limit prescribed by section 11B(2) or (4) of this Act or in relation to that time limit as applied by virtue of section 12(1) of this Act.”


16 (1) Section 33 of that Act (discretionary exclusion of time limit) is amended as follows.

(2) In subsection (1), in paragraph (a), for “or 11A” substitute “, 11A, 11B”.

 

(3) After subsection (1A) insert—

 

“(1B) Where the damages claimed are confined to damages for loss of or damage to any property, the court shall not under this section disapply any provision in its application to an action under section 2 of the Automated and Electric Vehicles Act 2018.”

 

(4) In subsections (2) and (4), for “or subsection (4) of section 11A” substitute “, 11A(4) or 11B(2) or (4)”.

 

(5) In subsection (3)(b), after “section 11A” insert “, by section 11B”.

 

(6) In subsection (8), for “or 11A” substitute “, 11A or 11B”.

 

Road Traffic Act 1988 (c. 52)

 

17 In section 143 of the Road Traffic Act 1988 (users of motor vehicles to be insured or secured against third-party risks), after subsection (1) insert —

 

“(1A) In the application of this Part to automated vehicles —
(a) subsection (1) above has effect with the omission of the words “or such a security in respect of third party risks” in paragraphs (a) and (b);
(b) this Part has effect with the omission of sections 146 and 147(2);
(c) any other references to a security or certificate of security in this Act are to be ignored.””
18 In section 144 of that Act (exceptions from requirement of third-party insurance etc), in subsection (1), after “does not apply to a vehicle” insert “, other than an automated vehicle,”.

19 (1) Section 145 of that Act (requirements in respect of policies of insurance) is amended as follows.

(2) After subsection (3) insert —

 

“(3A) In the case of an automated vehicle, the policy must also provide for the insurer’s obligations to an insured person under section 2(1) of the Automated and Electric Vehicles Act 2018 (liability of insurers etc where accident caused by automated vehicle) to be obligations under the policy. In this subsection “insured person” means a person who is covered under the policy for using the vehicle on a road or public place in Great Britain.”
(3) At the end of subsection (4) insert — “Paragraph (a) does not apply where the vehicle in question is an automated vehicle.”

20 In section 161 of that Act (interpretation), in subsection (1), at the appropriate place insert —

““automated vehicle” means a vehicle listed by the Secretary of State under section 1 of the Automated and Electric Vehicles Act 2018,”.


21 In section 162 of that Act (index to Part 6), at the appropriate place in the table insert —

 

 

 

The Automated and Electric Vehicles Act 2018

 

 

..

 

 

 

 


USA WASHINGTON DC - LEGAL DEFINITION

In Washington, DC's district code: 

 

"Autonomous vehicle" means a vehicle capable of navigating District roadways and interpreting traffic-control devices without a driver actively operating any of the vehicle's control systems. The term "autonomous vehicle" excludes a motor vehicle enabled with active safety systems or driver- assistance systems, including systems to provide electronic blind-spot assistance, crash avoidance, emergency braking, parking assistance, adaptive cruise control, lane-keep assistance, lane-departure warning, or traffic-jam and queuing assistance, unless the system alone or in combination with other systems enables the vehicle on which the technology is installed to drive without active control or monitoring by a human operator.

 

In the same district code, it is considered that: 

 

An autonomous vehicle may operate on a public roadway; provided, that the vehicle: 

 

(1) Has a manual override feature that allows a driver to assume control of the autonomous vehicle at any time;

 

(2) Has a driver seated in the control seat of the vehicle while in operation who is prepared to take control of the autonomous vehicle at any moment; and

 

(3) Is capable of operating in compliance with the District's applicable traffic laws and motor vehicle laws and traffic control devices.

 

 

 

Waymo driverless taxi self driving autonomous vehicle

 

 

 

HISTORY OF AUTOMATED CARS

 

The first semi-automated car was developed in 1977, by Japan's Tsukuba Mechanical Engineering Laboratory, which required specially marked streets that were interpreted by two cameras on the vehicle and an analog computer. The vehicle reached speeds up to 30 kilometres per hour (19 mph) with the support of an elevated rail.

A landmark autonomous car appeared in the 1980s, with Carnegie Mellon University's Navlab and ALV projects funded by the United States' Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) starting in 1984 and Mercedes-Benz and Bundeswehr University Munich's EUREKA Prometheus Project in 1987. By 1985, the ALV had demonstrated self-driving speeds on two-lane roads of 31 kilometres per hour (19 mph), with obstacle avoidance added in 1986, and off-road driving in day and nighttime conditions by 1987. A major milestone was achieved in 1995, with CMU's NavLab 5 completing the first autonomous coast-to-coast drive of the United States. Of the 2,849 mi (4,585 km) between Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and San Diego, California, 2,797 mi (4,501 km) were autonomous (98.2%), completed with an average speed of 63.8 mph (102.7 km/h).

From the 1960s through the second DARPA Grand Challenge in 2005, automated vehicle research in the United States was primarily funded by DARPA, the US Army, and the US Navy, yielding incremental advances in speeds, driving competence in more complex conditions, controls, and sensor systems. Companies and research organizations have developed prototypes.

The US allocated US$650 million in 1991 for research on the National Automated Highway System, which demonstrated automated driving through a combination of automation embedded in the highway with automated technology in vehicles, and cooperative networking between the vehicles and with the highway infrastructure. The program concluded with a successful demonstration in 1997 but without clear direction or funding to implement the system on a larger scale. Partly funded by the National Automated Highway System and DARPA, the Carnegie Mellon University Navlab drove 4,584 kilometres (2,848 mi) across America in 1995, 4,501 kilometres (2,797 mi) or 98% of it autonomously.

Navlab's record achievement stood unmatched for two decades until 2015, when Delphi improved it by piloting an Audi, augmented with Delphi technology, over 5,472 kilometres (3,400 mi) through 15 states while remaining in self-driving mode 99% of the time. In 2015, the US states of Nevada, Florida, California, Virginia, and Michigan, together with Washington, DC, allowed the testing of automated cars on public roads.

From 2016 to 2018, the European Commission funded an innovation strategy development for connected and automated driving through the Coordination Actions CARTRE and SCOUT. Moreover, the Strategic Transport Research and Innovation Agenda (STRIA) Roadmap for Connected and Automated Transport was published in 2019.

In 2017, Audi stated that its latest A8 would be automated at speeds of up to 60 kilometres per hour (37 mph) using its "Audi AI". The driver would not have to do safety checks such as frequently gripping the steering wheel. The Audi A8 was claimed to be the first production car to reach Level 3 automated driving, and Audi would be the first manufacturer to use laser scanners in addition to cameras and ultrasonic sensors for their system.

 

 

 

ROBOCAR - A driverless racing car for RoboRace. Great, saves the high cost of human drivers.

 

 

In November 2017, Waymo announced that it had begun testing driverless cars without a safety driver in the driver position; however, there was still an employee in the car. In October 2018, Waymo announced that its test vehicles had traveled in automated mode for over 10,000,000 miles (16,000,000 km), increasing by about 1,000,000 miles (1,600,000 kilometres) per month. In December 2018, Waymo was the first to commercialize a fully autonomous taxi service in the US, in Phoenix, Arizona.

A*STAR's Institute for Infocomm Research (I2R) developed a self-driving vehicle which was the first to be approved in Singapore for public road testing at one-north in July 2015. It has ferried several dignitaries such as Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, Minister S. Iswaran, Minister Vivian Balakrishnan, and several ministers from other countries.

 

In 2020, a National Transportation Safety Board chairman clarified there is no self-driving car in the US in 2020: 

"There is not a vehicle currently available to US consumers that is self-driving. Period. Every vehicle sold to US consumers still requires the driver to be actively engaged in the driving task, even when advanced driver assistance systems are activated. If you are selling a car with an advanced driver assistance system, you’re not selling a self-driving car. If you are driving a car with an advanced driver assistance system, you don’t own a self-driving car."

 

 

 

 

 

LEVELS OF DRIVING AUTOMATION

In SAE's automation level definitions, "driving mode" means "a type of driving scenario with characteristic dynamic driving task requirements (e.g., expressway merging, high speed cruising, low speed traffic jam, closed-campus operations, etc.)"

 

Level 0: The automated system issues warnings and may momentarily intervene but has no sustained vehicle control.

Level 1 ("hands on"): The driver and the automated system share control of the vehicle. Examples are systems where the driver controls steering and the automated system controls engine power to maintain a set speed (Cruise Control) or engine and brake power to maintain and vary speed (Adaptive Cruise Control or ACC); and Parking Assistance, where steering is automated while speed is under manual control. The driver must be ready to retake full control at any time. Lane Keeping Assistance (LKA) Type II is a further example of Level 1 self-driving. The Automatic Emergency Braking feature which alerts the driver to a crash and deploys full braking capacity is also a Level 1 feature.

Level 2 ("hands off"): The automated system takes full control of the vehicle: accelerating, braking, and steering. The driver must monitor the driving and be prepared to intervene immediately at any time if the automated system fails to respond properly. The shorthand "hands off" is not meant to be taken literally – contact between hand and wheel is often mandatory during SAE 2 driving, to confirm that the driver is ready to intervene.

Level 3 ("eyes off"): The driver can safely turn their attention away from the driving tasks, e.g. the driver can text or watch a movie. The vehicle will handle situations that call for an immediate response, like emergency braking. The driver must still be prepared to intervene within some limited time, specified by the manufacturer, when called upon by the vehicle to do so.

Level 4 ("mind off"): As level 3, but no driver attention is ever required for safety, e.g. the driver may safely go to sleep or leave the driver's seat. Self-driving is supported only in limited spatial areas (geofenced) or under special circumstances. Outside of these areas or circumstances, the vehicle must be able to safely abort the trip, e.g. park the car, if the driver does not retake control. An example would be a robotic taxi or a robotic delivery service that only covers selected locations in a specific area.

Level 5 ("steering wheel optional"): No human intervention is required at all. An example would be a robotic taxi that works an all roads all over the world, all year around, in all weather conditions.

In the formal SAE definition below, note in particular the shift from SAE 2 to SAE 3: the human driver no longer has to monitor the environment. This is the final aspect of the "dynamic driving task" that is now passed over from the human to the automated system. At SAE 3, the human driver still has responsibility to intervene when asked to do so by the automated system. At SAE 4 the human driver is always relieved of that responsibility and at SAE 5 the automated system will never need to ask for an intervention. 

 

..

 

CLIMATE CHANGE COP HISTORY

 

1995 COP 1, BERLIN, GERMANY

2008 COP 14/CMP 4, POZNAN, POLAND

1996 COP 2, GENEVA, SWITZERLAND

2009 COP 15/CMP 5, COPENHAGEN, DENMARK

1997 COP 3, KYOTO, JAPAN

2010 COP 16/CMP 6, CANCUN, MEXICO

1998 COP 4, BUENOS AIRES, ARGENTINA

2011 COP 17/CMP 7, DURBAN, SOUTH AFRICA

1999 COP 5, BONN, GERMANY

2012 COP 18/CMP 8, DOHA, QATAR

2000:COP 6, THE HAGUE, NETHERLANDS

2013 COP 19/CMP 9, WARSAW, POLAND

2001 COP 7, MARRAKECH, MOROCCO

2014 COP 20/CMP 10, LIMA, PERU

2002 COP 8, NEW DELHI, INDIA

2015 COP 21/CMP 11, Paris, France

2003 COP 9, MILAN, ITALY

2016 COP 22/CMP 12/CMA 1, Marrakech, Morocco

2004 COP 10, BUENOS AIRES, ARGENTINA

2017 COP 23/CMP 13/CMA 2, Bonn, Germany

2005 COP 11/CMP 1, MONTREAL, CANADA

2018 COP 24/CMP 14/CMA, Katowice, Poland

2006 COP 12/CMP 2, NAIROBI, KENYA

2019 COP 25/CMP 15/CMA, Madrid, Spain

2007 COP 13/CMP 3, BALI, INDONESIA

2020 COP 26/CMP 16/CMA 3, Glasgow, Scotland

 

 

 

 

 

TOP POWER COMPANIES A - Z 

 

Duke Energy Corporation, DUK, N. Carolina, USA

Dominion Energy Inc., Richmond, Virginia

EDF Électricité de France SA

ENEL

Engie

E.ON

Exelon Corporation EXC, Chicago, USA

GE General Electric

Iberdrola

KEPCO Korean Electric Power Corporation

National Electric Grid & Central Electricity Authority (India)

National Energy Board (Canada)

National Grid plc (formerly Central Electricity Generating Board UK)

Next Era Energy Inc. Florida, USA
Scottish & Southern Energy

Southern Company, Atlanta, Alabama, Georgia, Mississippi, USA

State Grid Corporation of China

TEPCO Tokyo Electric Power Company

 

 

 

 

 

 

SIX STEPS TOWARD A COOLER PLANET

 

1. TRANSPORT: Phase out polluting vehicles. Governments aim to end the sale of new petrol, and diesel vehicles by 2040 but have no feasible infrastructure plan to support such ambition. Marine transport can be carbon neutral with smaller container ships that are solar and wind powered.

 

2. RENEWABLESRenewable energy should replace carbon-based fuels (coal, oil and gas) in our electricity, heating and transport.

 

3. HOUSING: On site micro or macro generation is the best option, starting with new build homes that are zero carbon, or energy neutral. We must make it illegal for councils to grant planning permission to any new houses that are not compliant. Local authorities are to blame for kleptocratic decision making - making them climate criminals.

 

4. AGRICULTURE: We need trees to absorb carbon emissions from a growing population, flying, and to build affordable new homes. Reducing food waste and promoting less energy intensive eating habits such as no meat Mondays.

 

5. INDUSTRY: Factories should be aiming for solar heating and onsite renewable energy generation.

 

6. POLITICS: - National governing bodies need to adopt rules to eliminate administrative wastages, to include scaling down spending on war machines, increasing spend on educating the public and supporting sustainable social policies that mesh with other cultures. One way of pushing this agenda is total transparency in Governments and Courts as per United Nations SDG 16. This would tend to prevent corrupt politicians and civil servants from pursuing unlawful agendas.

 

 

 

 

CONTACTS

 

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LINKS & REFERENCES

 

http://electricvanandtruck.com/the-race-to-decarbonise/

https://ec.europa.eu/transport/themes/urban/vehicles/road/electric_en

http://electricvanandtruck.com/electric-vehicles-act-uk/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Self-driving_car

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/boost-for-electric-and-driverless-car-industry-as-government-drives-forward-green-transport-revolution

https://lordsbusiness.parliament.uk/ItemOfBusiness?itemOfBusinessId=52304&sectionId=40&businessPaperDate=2018-07-19

https://services.parliament.uk/bills/2017-19/automatedandelectricvehicles.html

http://www.legislation.gov.uk/

 

 

 

 

 This website is provided on a free basis as a public information service. copyright © Climate Change Trust 2020. Solar Studios, BN271RF, United Kingdom.

 

 

LOOKING FOR COOLER WAYS TO GENERATE ENERGY FOR LIFE IN THE UNITED KINGDOM