The paper, which analyzed 12 different technologies associated with automated vehicles, also found that CO2 emissions could be reduced by up to 6 percent.
Nationwide, United States
Air emission impacts of low-level automated vehicle technologies in U.S. metropolitan areas
Summary Information
The transportation sector is the largest producer of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in the United States. New automated vehicle (AV) technologies provide opportunities to reduce fuel consumption and emissions. While it is difficult to estimate the impact of highly automated vehicles (HAVs), as they are likely to bring about significant mode and user shifts, the impacts of low-level automated vehicles (LAVs) are simpler to estimate. In this context, LAVs are vehicles with up to Level 2 automation by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration definition.
This study examined the impacts of 12 LAV technologies, including lane departure warning, blind-spot warning, forward collision warning, traffic warning, speed limit detection, adaptive cruise control (ACC), cooperative adaptive cruise ontrol (CACC), forward collision avoidance, lane-keeping assistance, active braking, the parking aid system, and dynamic route guidance. It estimated the emissions reduction impact of LAV technologies and associated cost savings in terms of mortality, morbidity, and environmental damages, as well as the impact of market penetration rates (MPR) on emissions and variations in the LAV technologies’ emission impacts across 86 metropolitan areas.
Findings:
- The simulations run by the researchers determined that at a 100 percent MPR, the LAV technologies would be capable of reducing emissions of various GHGs by 18 to 20 percent. This corresponds with savings of up to 38 million USD per day.
- At 50 percent MPR, ACC, CACC, parking aid, and dynamic route guidance all result in between 5.6 and 3.5 million USD in cost savings per day, while the other technologies result in savings of .05 million USD per day or less.
- The reduction in non-accident-related congestion and the aerodynamic force reduction derived from AV technologies were calculated to provide 99 percent of the total emissions cost savings.
- Broken down by metropolitan area, the study found that at 50 percent MPR Los Angeles and New York City would save 2.1 and 1.8 million USD per day, respectively, while other metropolitan areas would save around 1 million USD per day or less.
- By applying the technologies' lowered risks of mortality and morbidity for urban users, the paper calculated that each citizen of the metropolitan areas studied would save 30 USD annually at 50 percent MPR.
- Overall, the researchers found that light-duty LAVs in metropolitan areas could reduce nationwide carbon dioxide emissions by 6 percent annually and save 2-5 percent on other GHGs.
