Start by clarifying the scope: are we solving for peak demand or average demand, and are we assuming private ownership or shared autonomous fleets? Then structure your answer by estimating total vehicle miles traveled (VMT) and dividing by the utilization rate of a self-driving vehicle to get the required fleet size.
Pro tip: Show that you understand the difference between ownership and utilization: a shared autonomous fleet can replace many private cars because it runs nearly 24/7, but you must account for peak-hour demand and empty repositioning miles.
Ask whether the scenario assumes private ownership or a shared fleet, and whether we need to meet average or peak demand. State your assumptions clearly before calculating.
Calculate the total annual vehicle miles traveled by the U.S. population. Use population, average miles driven per person per year, and adjust for factors like shared rides.
Estimate how many miles a self-driving car can cover per year. Consider hours of operation, average speed, downtime for charging/maintenance, and empty miles.
Divide total annual VMT by annual miles per vehicle to get the number of vehicles needed. Sanity-check against current car ownership numbers.
Address peak demand, geographic density, and whether the fleet should be sized for worst-case or average. Mention potential reductions in total vehicles due to higher utilization.
AI-generated suggestions, not part of the candidate's original notes. May be inaccurate — verify before relying on them.