Study Using Real-World Scenarios and Mathematical Models Found Adaptive Cruise Control Reduced Fuel Consumption by 0.3L per 100 km in Dense Traffic Conditions.

Research Study Compared Observational Driving Data from a US Fleet of Vehicles With and Without Adaptive Cruise Control.

Date Posted
03/31/2025
Identifier
2025-B01932

Effect of adaptive cruise control on fuel consumption in real-world driving conditions

Summary Information

Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) has the potential to improve driving safety, comfort, and reduce fuel consumption. ACC works by automatically adjusting the speed of a vehicle to maintain a safe distance from the vehicle ahead. This study evaluated the impact of ACC on fuel consumption in real-world driving conditions using a large-scale driving dataset from a diverse fleet of vehicles and drivers in the USA in 2020.

METHODOLOGY

This study was conducted at a macroscopic trip-level to estimate the benefits of ACC by comparing trips with and without cruise control using statistical methods, and at a situation-based level through the segmentation of trips into distinct driving situations such as acceleration, braking, cruising, and other maneuvers. The fleet dataset used in this study included over 60 different signals such as powertrain data (engine, fuel, transmission, thermal, etc.), automated driving assistance data (ACC, lane-keeping, gap settings, etc.), sensor data, and GPS data. 

FINDINGS

Situation-based results showed that ACC reduced fuel consumption by 0.3 liters per 100 kilometers (62 miles) in dense traffic conditions.

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