A Computer Will Drive the Electric Car of the Future

David Roberts argues at Grist that one takeaway from the Tesla/New York Times feud is: "It is probably true that electric cars will never be able to replace gas cars, if the cars themselves — the widgets — are the only thing we replace." He says the real issue here is one of systems, not individual vehicles.

I think that's right, but Roberts doesn't even bring up what would be the biggest system-wide change here—eliminating the driver.

If you imagine a taxi without a human driver,...