Driverless taxi operators are preparing to bring services to London later this year but questions remain over whether robotaxis will cut emissions, or simply add more cars and electricity demand to the capital.
The London Assembly is examining the impact on road safety, congestion, jobs, cyber security and passenger travel as companies including Wayve, Uber, Lyft and Waymo seek regulatory approval.
Commercial robotaxis have not yet launched in the UK and no vehicles are currently listed for general self-driving use in Great Britain.
Trials involving Wayve and Uber have been planned for London during 2026, while Google-owned Waymo has also announced its intention to begin autonomous ride-hailing tests in the capital.
The early fleets are expected to use electric vehicles, potentially removing tailpipe emissions from individual journeys. However, large numbers of cars returning regularly to concentrated charging depots could create new pressure on local electricity networks.
The impact will depend on fleet size, charging times and whether operators use smart charging to avoid peak demand.
The bigger environmental question is whether robotaxis replace privately owned cars or compete with buses, trains, cycling and walking.
TfL has warned shared autonomous fleets could reduce congestion if they discourage car ownership but could have the opposite effect if they place additional vehicles on already crowded roads.
Empty journeys between passengers, vehicles travelling to charging depots and cheaper app-based trips could all increase mileage.
Road safety is central to the debate.
Government figures show human error was recorded as a contributory factor in 88% of road collisions, supporting claims that automation could reduce crashes. However, Britain recorded 128,272 road casualties of all severities during 2024, underlining the standard autonomous systems will be expected to meet.
The Automated Vehicles Act requires authorised vehicles to achieve safety equivalent to or better than a careful and competent human driver.
London presents a difficult test, with narrow streets, cyclists, pedestrians, roadworks, emergency vehicles and complex junctions creating conditions unlike the wide grid systems used in several US cities.
The Assembly is also considering the impact on around 100,000 private-hire drivers alongside London’s black-cab trade.
Cyber attacks, passenger security, access for disabled users and responsibility when a vehicle fails are also under scrutiny.
Any commercial launch will depend on government approval and London licensing arrangements, with operators yet to confirm final fleet numbers, charging plans or service areas.
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