Open AccessAutonomous vehicle adoption: use phase environmental implications
Author(s) -
Wissam Kontar,
Soyoung Ahn,
Andrea Hicks
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
environmental research letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.37
H-Index - 124
ISSN - 1748-9326
DOI - 10.1088/1748-9326/abf6f4
Subject(s) - environmental economics , attractiveness , modal , electricity , greenhouse gas , mode (computer interface) , preference , consumption (sociology) , mode choice , environmental impact assessment , environmental science , energy consumption , business , computer science , economics , transport engineering , microeconomics , engineering , ecology , psychology , social science , public transport , chemistry , sociology , polymer chemistry , psychoanalysis , electrical engineering , biology , operating system
This paper investigates the environmental trade offs resulting from the adoption of autonomous vehicles (AVs) as a function of modal shifts and use phase. An empirical approach is taken to formulate a mode choice model informed from a stated preference (SP) survey conducted in Madison, Wisconsin. A life cycle analysis based on well-to-wheel model is then conducted to quantify the use phase environmental impacts across different categories. The mode choice analysis reveals the potential users of AVs and its attractiveness as a mode of transportation, ultimately competing with traditional modes available. This translates into modal shifts that are shown to result in an expected increase in environmental impacts across all studied categories: energy consumption (5.93%), greenhouse gas emissions (5.72%), particulate matter (6.80%), sulfur (6.85%) and nitrogen oxides (5.70%). The adoption of electric AVs (E-AVs) is then analyzed as an offsetting strategy to combat the increase in environmental impacts. The analysis reveals that E-AVs are capable of offsetting the foreseen impacts, yet their effectiveness is dependent on the electricity generation mix and adoption rate.