What happens in a Vegas Autonomous Vehicle… could set a precedent for the rest of the country.
Exploring the City of Las Vegas, their in-depth infrastructure, and the commitment to fostering growth in AV/EV fleets through private/public partnerships.
If you’re in Vegas, there’s a chance your latest Lyft ride was an Autonomous Vehicle (AV). With over 25,000 paid rides in Clark County and the average rating of 4.95/5 stars, the outlook for the continuation of the AV Lyft contract seems promising.
The Nevada Tech Caucus (#NVTechCaucus) recently took place in Las Vegas, and we’re seeing a lot of excitement towards these new efforts. Add in CES recently taking place and we’re seeing a lot of talk about the opportunity of combining policy with business to best encourage a safe, and progressive future for the State of Nevada.
Now one of the pioneering cities for AVs — Las Vegas is making a name for progressive initiatives towards new technologies. They haven’t always been known for technology — but Nevada’s southern powerhouse city is truly making a name for it now. With multiple partners focused on AV and Electric Vehicles (EV’s) fostering a home or even a partnership with the City of Las Vegas — we must continue to monitor the actions and initiatives individuals are taking in the city over the coming years.
Meet the Key Players
Aptiv
It’s been a year since intelligent mobility startup, Aptiv, has piloted their AV’s in Las Vegas. The startup features a 130,000-square-foot Las Vegas facility will handle research and development, vehicle operations, and data management, according to an Aptiv press release.
During the #NVTechCaucus that tool place in Las Vegas on January 28, 2019, the Regional Transportation Commision of Southern Nevada (RTC Southern Nevada) received a tour of the Aptiv autonomous vehicle fleet that is helping not just Southern Nevada, but all AV/EV policy move forward.
INRIX
Las Vegas has taken additional safety precautions with RTC Southern Nevada to coordinate with software company Intrix to provide digitized maps of the roads in particular areas of the city. This allows AVs to absorb any information they might not have innately gathered from their surroundings.
“Southern Nevada is committed to staying at the forefront of advanced transportation technology testing and development, so we’re excited to partner with INRIX on this groundbreaking project that focuses on ensuring autonomous vehicles can safely navigate our streets,” said RTC General Manager Tina Quigley in a press release found on their site.
How Did They Do It?
The swift jump to practical use of AVs in Las Vegas is in large part due to regulation passed by the Nevada State Legislature in 2017. AB69 provided the legal framework that allows companies to self-certify with the Department of Motor Vehicles for the testing and operation of AVs.
In combination with additional efforts in private/public partnerships, Nevada has begun to create a future with AVs that we can all look forward to.
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