Waymo, a popular autonomous vehicle operator based in California, is taking a big step to become completely independent of fossil fuels. The company announced Thursday that its current plug-in hybrid minivans will be replaced by the all-electric Jaguar I-Pace.
Waymo Driver Aims to Build Trustworthiness With the All-Electric Jaguar I-Pace EVs
Taking a Waymo One ride will no longer require burning of fossil fuels as the Alphabet-owned brand is saying goodbye to its hybrid Chrysler vans. As reported by Engadget, the Jaguar I-Pace electric vehicles will mark the fifth generation of "Waymo Driver," the branding given by the company to its autonomous driving hardware and software package that allows the vehicle to drive without someone to control the steering wheel.
Waymo is no stranger to environmental causes as it has continuously found ways to lessen its vehicles' emissions. With this decision to go fully electric, there should be significantly less impact on the environment since a Waymo vehicle spends more time on the road compared to a regular private-owned car that uses fossil fuel. Furthermore, Waymo assures the public that the company uses renewable energy to charge its electric vehicles.
Apart from the environmental factor, the switch the Jaguar EVs is said to have more practical advantages. For one, the company can maximize its operational and technical support with the Jaguar I-Pace. The EV also promises consistency that will make Waymo Driver more trustworthy than before. In the near future, Waymo also aims to add more EVs like the custom-made Zeekr by Geely.
"Our growing ride-hailing service not only increases sustainable transportation options, but also offers Waymo's safety benefits to the communities we serve," Waymo stated in the company's blog update.
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According to The Verge, the driving force behind Waymo's switch to Jaguar EVs is its recent decision to join the White House EV Acceleration Challenge. This project by the Biden Administration is an open invitation to all businesses to go fully electric and lessen their dependence on fossil fuels.
In the AV business, using gas-powered cars will soon become a thing of the past, especially now that more companies like Waymo are making the big switch to EVs. Waymo's competitors like Cruise and Zoox have made their own move to use electric cars, like Cruise's Chevy Bolts. Motional is also on its way to ditch gas-powered vehicles by choosing Hyundai Ioniq 5s.
Another possible reason for Waymo transitioning to Jaguar I-Pace is the California bill passed in 2021 that requires all automated vehicles on the road to be electric by 2030.
Waymo is among the pioneers in the country when it comes to automated vehicles, not to mention that its home state, California, is the first in the U.S. to test AVs. The company currently operates robotaxi service in San Francisco, and is set to expand its operations to Los Angeles later this year.
