This week’s technology highlight comes from Google and their self-driving vehicles. The fleet consist of six Toyota Priuses and one Audi TT, driving from LA to SF along scenic highway 101.

The cars were driving themselves using decision-making artificial intelligence software. And were accompanied by a technician to monitor the navigation system and take control if anything goes wrong.

While in San Francisco, the car even made it out to Lombard Street. The one block section that is famous for it’s steep hill along the tight and twisty turns.

Anyone who’s ever visited SF, needs to drive thru this street. Nice photo from San Francisco DiaryStar.

The test drive from SF to LA was successful, except for one minor accident where it was hit from behind. The cars were able to navigated themselves successfully in city traffic, even stopping for pedestrians too.

Google believes these driveless cars will make for safer roadways and also reduce energy cost. As a fleet of shared smart vehicles will only be driven when needed and not owned or parked by each person. A bit like Zipcars. Plus no need for designated drivers now that your car can drive you home.

Google believes the future of autonomous vehicles can be here within the next decade. But the legal issue surrounding that would be another story.

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In the future, hopefully all cars will become more “green.” But the cost of green cars such as hybrids are still expensive. Especially when you think of having to replace the batteries.

In June of 2008, hybrid car manufactures such as Toyota and Honda started to lower the prices of the car’s replacement batteries.

2006 Honda Civic Hybrid. Image from Wiki Commons.

For Honda, the cost of its batteries went from $3,400 (excluding installation) to as low as $1,968 on an Insight. And as high as $2,440 on an Accord hybrid. Toyota also reduce their battery prices, which is at $3,000 (excluding installation), down from $5,500 on the original Prius.

That would seem to be good news to many hybrid owners that will need to replace their batteries soon. That was two years ago.

But now there is another issue with the battery. The LA Times reported recently in August that Honda mailed out letters to more than 100,000 owners of 2006, 2007 and 2008 Civics in the U.S. and Canada. The letter stated the batteries “may deteriorate and eventually fail” earlier then expected. The company states a software fix would solve the problem.

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