Increasing financial commitment to accelerating and expanding electrified autonomous vehicle deployment promises vast societal and environmental benefits. The positive effects of these technological breakthroughs will be attained and maximized not only because of the improved energy conversion and optimized driving strategies of autonomous vehicles, but also through manufacturers’ intentional selection of energy efficient componentry. After reviewing the energy conversion advantages of electrified vehicles and the potential to optimize autonomous vehicle operation by optimizing their driving strategies in accordance with advanced driver assistance system performance, this paper highlights the broad implications of selecting energy efficient lidar sensors as the central components in autonomous vehicle perception stacks. Energy efficient components have significant impact on electrified autonomous vehicles’ overall range, energy consumption, and required service and maintenance infrastructure. In evaluating the relative efficiency of various lidar sensors, this paper proposes a new metric: the ratio of sensor performance specifications (field of view, range, resolution) compared to sensor characteristics that directly impact electrified autonomous vehicle efficiency (power consumption, weight, volume).
