Autonomous Drive: A Cleaner, Safer and More Inclusive Future on the Road
In line with Ambition 2030, our long-term vision, we are accelerating towards a safer, cleaner, and more inclusive society, where autonomous drive (AD) technologies are a key pillar. With AD tech, Nissan envisions a world where everyone can travel freely and safely, paving the way for a zero accident and fatality future. We want to enhance driving confidence and pleasure through increased safety, control, and comfort for those on board.
In 2017 we kickstarted our groundbreaking autonomous drive research in the UK, first with our HumanDrive project, then ServCity. The aim of this research is to feed into our global AD development efforts, boosting the technology’s capabilities and ensuring it brings tangible benefits to our customers and wider society in any scenario.
Our latest AD research project, evolvAD, takes the next leap forward – building on learnings from our earlier projects and testing the technology on challenging residential and rural roads.
But what does this mean for you? Here’s how AD is set to transform the way we move, bringing a new era of intelligent and adaptive mobility:
- Cleaner: Our evolvAD research project was tested using 100% electric LEAF models, yet AD technology is designed to be adaptible to any vehicle type. The environmental benefits come from its ability to optimise driving efficiency – reducing time spent idling in city streets, enhancing traffic flow, and enabling more energy-conscious driving patterns. It can also support smoother braking and reduce particulates from the brake pads. As applications such as ride-sharing and mobility services expand, AD has the potential to significantly lower emissions and improve urban air quality.
- Safer: AD ensures an additional layer of security for you and those around you. We know that the majority of on-road accidents are caused by human error. For example, in 2023, 71%1 of road accidents in Great Britain were influenced by driver or rider error. AD technology remains fully attentive at all times – it doesn’t get distracted, tired, or impaired. By consistently monitoring the environment, it can anticipate and react to potential hazards - enhancing safety and reducing the risk of accidents on the road.
- More Inclusive: Recent studies have found that approximately 129 million2 EU citizens live in sparsely populated areas that suffer from poor or non-existent public transport services, whilst one in four3 disabled and elderly British people avoid using the UK public transport system due to accessibility issues. By extending mobility solutions to rural areas and providing alternative options for those with limited access perhaps through disability or age, AD technology can help to bridge the transportation gap currently and connect communities. It can also boost driver enjoyment, easing some of the pain points experienced when driving such as boredom, anxiety or tiredness.
As the above video shows, evolvAD is the latest step in our AD mission, delivering convenient and sustainable transport solutions as we drive towards our Ambition 2030 goals.
Want to learn more about how evolvAD is shaping the future of mobility? Click here. To find out more about our commitment to a sustainable future, click here.