Marc Hoag AI Law Pod (formerly Autonomous Cars with Marc Hoag)

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My guest today is Allen Witters, the CEO of T4L -- that's Transportation for Life -- a brand-agnostic electric vehicle subscription service that already has over $3M in pre-orders, and is already eyeing an IPO; they've also got a WeFunder page.

If that sounds a bit much, a bit too sudden, a bit too everything to be true, that's because the T4L team are determined to do their part to expedite the world to an electric vehicle future by removing every obstacle, road block, and hindrance to EV ownership along the way.

First off, T4L is not a car sharing platform; it's a car subscription platform. Second, in case this brings back memories of GM's failed Maven service, say, or Mercedes' recently pulled plug on their subscription service, too, remember that both Volvo and Porsche are still pushing strongly with their respective subscription services. Third, this is an altogether different sort of subscription model more akin to a cell phone purchase.

While there are several subscription tiers available (including a "for life" plan), it's the decidedly cell phone-type plan that I think is most intriguing, wherein you pay for a fixed number of miles and time, and you either use it all or you don't.

What's more interesting is the interplay with third party subscriptions: residential condominiums, or corporate clients, for example, can subscribe to T4L's services and then provide the vehicles to their tenants or employees. To use a somewhat less extravagant analogy, think of hotels that provide bicycles for their guests.

What's most astonishing, though, is that T4L even provides life time electric vehicle charging and will even install the appropriate chargers onsite if needed. And if that's not enough, they're even developing so-called EV experience centers for people to hang out, browse various EVs, and even get a coffee.

There's a lot to unpack here, so fortunately I got about 40 minutes with Allen discussing all the ins and outs of of T4L and their mission, so I hope you're sitting comfortably, because Episode 187 with Allen Witters, CEO of T4L, begins now.

My guest today is Noel Marshall of the drive-by-wire team over at Schaeffler's US offices. We discuss everything from their Indy Autonomous Challenge; the SAM Car Project; the USDOT inclusive design challenge; and tackle some of the much broader issues surrounding autonomous vehicles, society, and much more besides.

Today:

1. I explain further why AVs need to be EVs, and talk about Cruise's huge new charging station in SF

2. I explain why teleoperations should be considered as an alternative to AVs

3. Argo.ai has partnered up with LabCampus at Munich Airport to develop an AV test track

Today: 

1. All AVs must be EVs in California by 2025

2. Pennsylvania recognizes delivery bots as "pedestrians" 

3. I debate the notion that Tesla's FSD beta is nothing more than a glorified L2 system

1. We reflect on Didi and AutoX's progress on autonomous ride sharing in China; their remote control center; and the validation of AVs in a covid world

2. Honda surprises the world with the first publicly available L3 vehicle

3. Cruise may have just bought Voyage

NHTSA: Final barriers to be removed thanks to NHTSA's final rule on AVs

GM: The new circular test track offers 4 lanes and 62 mph AV testing

Baidu: They get ready for numerous deployments in China and become the 6th company in California to get a driverless testing permit

1. Volkswagen and Microsoft partner up to deploy an automotive cloud solution for OTA updates and AV capabilities 

2. UK values AVs at £42B by 2035

3. Germany gets closer to allowing L4 vehicles on public roads

Apple buys lidar: Apple is off shopping for lidar. I theorize that they're likely going after solid state lidar.

Lucid gets SPAC'd: First Faraday, and now, as I predicted, so has Lucid, to the tune of $4.4B.

Volvo's solution for motion sickness: Volvo is using predictive data to solve motion sickness with audio queues.

Faraday Future: FF just went public via a SPAC valuing the troubled EV automaker at $3.4B

Aurora & Toyota: The AV technology company partners up with Toyota to utilize their Sienna minivan for ride hailing fleets

Apple Car: Apple's long-rumored Apple Car is apparently not happening with Hyundai-Kia; so what's going on? 

Guest: Jessica Uguccioni, Automated Vehicles Review - Lead Lawyer, at Law Commission of England and Wales

Topics: The Law Commission of England and Wales' review of the UK's regulatory framework for AVs on behalf of the UK Government's Centre for Connected and Autonomous Vehicles (CCAV)