Compare and Contrast Essay: Driverless Cars vs. Traditional Cars

What is the difference between a driverless and a traditional car? Is one better than the other? No one has ever questioned but some people are against driverless cars because of fear. On the other hand, some say we need to get more driverless cars, so fewer fatalities are on the road. Determining how they differ is to focus on the technology, safety, cost, and environmental effects of both cars.   

Technology in driverless cars, has come a long way. We are finally in an era where all a person must do is set the car to autopilot. Tesla, an electric car brand, is leading the way in the technology for driverless cars. The cars are equipped with eight cameras, twelve ultrasonic sensors, radar, and an onboard computer to identify lane paint on the road and detect vehicles in close proximity. The system was built to drive the car without someone in the driver's seat, but that is not the case. Driverless cars still require human supervision because they can make mistakes, so technically, they are not driverless. People still do not care, and there have been many news stories about people sitting in the passenger and falling asleep instead of paying attention to the road, which has even caused some nasty accidents. This also shows we are still far from perfecting this technology because of rare road conditions like an animal crossing a road or a fallen tree.  

With classic cars, technology is constantly improving. Today's cars have a variety of systems to assist the driver. An adaptive cruise control system, for example, uses radar to control the vehicle's speed and stop according to traffic conditions. This system is also semi-autonomous. It keeps the car in the center of the lane and maintains a safe traveling from other vehicles. It still requires a driver to be alert, but at least we can anticipate the actions of other drivers and road conditions to prevent crashes. These systems put together cannot entirely prevent a collision if the person is inhibited, distracted, or reckless driver. 

The United States Department of Energy's Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy reports states that "Electric Vehicles convert about 59%–62% of the electrical energy from the grid to power at the wheels."(Hanley). An electric motor typically is between 85% and 90% efficient. As a result, it turns that percentage of the energy provided into valuable output. It can also travel up to 250 miles before it needs to be recharged, and the cost to charge it is about $15.29, which is about 4.5 cents per mile. The price is lower than a traditional car. However, the downfall of this is that when planning a road trip, the user must find charging stations so they do not run out of power, and to reach a full charge, it will take at least 75 minutes. This amount of time to charge, will take away from the driving time and extend the trip depending on how far the driver is planning to go. In comparison, Classic cars are efficient because the driver does not have to worry about running out of fuel because there are gas stations mostly everywhere off the highway. It only takes 10 minutes to fill up a classic car and be on the road. However, in an article it states that, “gasoline vehicles only convert about 17%–21% of the energy stored in gasoline to power the car.” (Crider). Inefficiency within the engine and driveline results in the remaining energy being lost or being used to power accessories. The fuel price constantly changes day to day and limits where some people want to go. If they make a road trip, they probably will have to consider the fuel cost and save for it.  

Driverless cars are environmentally friendly. They do not emit any tailpipe pollutants, and the batteries needed to power them can last 12-15 years before replacement. It does not use fossil fuels like gasoline that influence the environment. They do not require specific maintenance like classic cars, for example, “tune-ups, oil changes, cooling system flushes, transmission servicing, and replacing the air filter, spark plugs, and drive belts.” (EV2021). Electric cars still use some form of fossil fuels to get the electricity to power the vehicle, and coal must be burned to drive turbines to generate electricity until a new source of clean energy is discovered. Even if the vehicle does not require much maintenance, if something goes wrong and a warranty does not cover it, then it can be pricey to fix it, so this is something to consider in the long run.  

In Closing, driverless and classic cars have their pros and cons. Although with all the new advancements to modernize our everyday vehicle it will never be perfect and there will always be a need for improvement in almost all the aspects we discussed like fuel, safety, and overall efficiency of a vehicle. Reflecting on these aspects before we purchase a vehicle will selfless decision.  

Works Cited 

What does it cost to maintain an EV. EnergyRight. (2021, January 12). Retrieved February 25, 2022, from https://energyright.com/ev/what-does-it-cost-to-maintain-an-ev/  

Administrator. (2013, August 26). Lockheed Martin Works on the new project of Hybrid Helicopter Armoured Vehicle Transformer TX 26. Defense News security global military army equipment technology industry - Army Recognition. Retrieved February 25, 2022, from https://www.armyrecognition.com/august_2013_defense_industry_military_army_news_uk/lockheed_martin_works_on_the_new_project_of_hybrid_helicopter_armoured_vehicle_transformer_tx_26.html  

Crider, J. (2021, November 20). What's up with the incorrect "evs are bad for the environment" push lately? CleanTechnica. Retrieved February 25, 2022, from https://cleantechnica.com/2021/11/20/whats-up-with-the-incorrect-evs-are-bad-for-the-environment-push-lately/  

Hanley, Steve. “Electric Car Myth Buster - Efficiency.” CleanTechnica, 10 Mar. 2018, https://cleantechnica.com/2018/03/10/electric-car-myth-buster-efficiency/.