Waymo Rolls Out Fleet Updates to Address Power Outage Challenges
January 5, 2026
Waymo, the autonomous vehicle subsidiary of Alphabet, announced that it is deploying updates to its US fleet to better handle disruptions caused by power outages. This initiative follows recent incidents in San Francisco during a widespread outage caused by Pacific Gas and Electric (PG&E).
Impact of Power Outages on Autonomous Vehicles
The recent blackout, initiated by a fire at a PG&E substation, disrupted traffic signals across San Francisco, leaving many traffic lights non-functional. Videos posted online showed Waymo's self-driving taxis stuck in the middle of busy streets with hazard lights flashing, as human drivers navigated around the congestion. Despite being programmed to treat inoperative signals as four-way stops, the scale of the outage caused prolonged standstills in some cases due to the high number of disabled signals.
Waymo's Response and Fleet Improvements
On Saturday, December 20, Waymo's fleet successfully navigated over 7,000 dark traffic signals. To enhance safety and decision-making during such events, the company is updating its systems to send more contextual information back to Waymo's headquarters when faced with unlit intersections. Previously, the fleet relied on confirmation requests from HQ before proceeding; the recent updates will refine this process, enabling the cars to act more decisively when regional power issues are detected.
"We are improving our confirmation protocols to match our current operational scale, allowing our vehicles to navigate more confidently during widespread outages," a Waymo spokesperson stated.
Broader Safety and Preparedness Measures
Waymo also committed to improving incident response capabilities. Collaborating with San Francisco’s mayor’s office, the company plans to bolster first-responder training and enhance its overall emergency preparedness. The company expressed gratitude to city officials and first responders for their efforts during the blackout.
About the Outage
The PG&E outage mainly stemmed from a substation fire, affecting over 100,000 customers with services fully restored by Tuesday. Current outages are ongoing across parts of Northern and Central California, primarily due to severe storms rather than the initial substation incident.
Additional Power Outage Updates
Meanwhile, global internet provider Hurricane Electric reported a power issue at its Fremont data center, though their network remained largely functional. Power companies continue to warn residents about the dangers of downed power lines, urging caution and immediate reporting to authorities to prevent accidents.
This article highlights how technology companies like Waymo are adapting their systems to ensure safety and reliability amid increasing infrastructural challenges.