European Commission sponsored study of ITS for environmental applications
European Union
ICT for Clean & Efficient Mobility: Final Report
Summary Information
This report by the The Working Group on Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) for Clean and Efficient Mobility, funded by the European Commission, presents a review of the wide range of Green Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) already available or under development that can have a significant impact on road transportation energy efficiency and emissions of pollutants and carbon dioxide (CO2).
Over the past decade, on-board and portable navigation systems have frequently been purchased and used by drivers to assist with driving directions and routing around congestion. Combining navigation systems and traveler information such as traffic and incident reports can create powerful tools to assist drivers in reducing fuel consumption and vehicle emissions.
FINDINGS
Navigation systems can provide substantial benefits for fuel economy and environmental impacts. Drivers using in-vehicle and portable navigation systems in unfamiliar locations can reduce Vehicle Miles Traveled (VMT) by 16 percent, and drivers can save up to 30 percent in mileage searching for a parking space, if the appropriate information is provided by the system. Fuel consumption and time savings are also realized through the use of real-time traffic information that helps drivers avoid traffic jams. These reductions all add up to fuel and emissions saving.