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As AI grows and becomes increasingly powerful, the possibilities for collaboration with the electric vehicle market becomes ever-greater. So is this really the start of something exciting, or will AI do more harm than good in the electric vehicle market?
The development of autonomous or self-driving vehicles is at the forefront of AI’s influence on EVs. AI, with its vast amounts of data, enable vehicles to navigate traffic, recognize pedestrians, and respond to real-world scenarios without human intervention. AI can enable one of the most exciting features of electric vehicles, making driving safer for both drivers & pedestrians.
AI’s role in EVs also extends to predictive maintenance. By continuously monitoring vehicle components, AI systems can predict potential failures before they lead to major issues. For example, machine learning algorithms can analyse the data from an electric car’s battery to predict its life cycle and performance. Such features can reduce the cost to the driver (less need for big expensive repairs) and also help to prevent breakdowns & accidents.
AI is also central to managing energy consumption in EVs more efficiently. AI can learn a driver’s patterns and preferences, optimizing energy usage based on these insights. For instance, the AI system could reduce energy consumption by controlling the car’s heating and cooling systems based on the outside temperature, predicted route, and the driver’s usual comfort settings. AI can therefore mitigate one of the largest concerns with EV prospects of vehicles running out of fuel mid-journey, which has been enhanced with a large increase in EV’s without any major development to the charger network.
Beyond autonomous driving, AI systems also help in enhancing safety in EVs by providing & developing driver assistance systems such as automatic emergency braking, lane departure warnings, and blind-spot detection, all of which will contribute to vehicle safety, while increasing trust in EVs in general.
Despite all of the excitement behind AI & electric vehicles, it’s very easy to get caught up in the positives and not the risk that such automation will bring. As AI become more integrated to the design of electric cars, there is a worry that designers will become complacent, and creativity will slowly be eroded. The future of cars could be bleak, boring and expected. What’s more boring than a world of carbon copies, where all cars were designed by the same person (or robot)?