AHS REDUCTION OF VEHICLE EMISSIONS: PRELIMINARY ANALYSIS

Implementation of automated highway systems (AHS) using key intelligent transportation system (ITS) technology should improve highway safety, effectively increase highway capacity, reduce congestion, and increase user comfort. It should also reduce fuel consumption and vehicle emissions by smoothing the traffic flow. By making highway travel more attractive, however, it may induce greater travel demand, resulting in higher vehicle miles traveled (VMT) and higher emissions. In this paper the author examines only the direct relationship between vehicle emissions and the operation of an AHS. This analysis is performed using a state-of-the-art AHS simulator, coupled with a unique power-demand modal-emissions model.