  Weight, computational load, sensor load, and possibly higher drag may
increase the energy use of automated electric vehicles (AEVs) relative to
human-driven electric vehicles (EVs), although this increase may be offset by
smoother driving. We use a vehicle dynamics model to show that automation is
likely to impose a minor penalty on EV range and have negligible effect on
battery longevity. As such, while some commentators have suggested that the
power and energy requirements of automation mean that the first automated
vehicles (AVs) will be gas-electric hybrids, we conclude that this need not be
the case. We also find that drivers need to place only a modest value on the
time saved by automation for its benefits to exceed direct costs.
