Fuel-saving opportunities for automated vehicles: A driving cycle analysis

Abstract

We calculate the energy demand of automated vehicles for different driving cycles. We alter standard driving cycles to depict the driving behavior of automated vehicles. We further assume additional energy demand for automation systems and investigate trade-offs between reductions in mechanical energy demand and increases in auxiliary energy demand. In the case of trucks, we find that smoother driving and the additional energy demand offset one another for highway driving. However, a notable reduction in energy demand can be achieved by lowering the maximum driving speed. For cars, we find that the additional energy demand slightly outweighs the effects of smoother driving on highways. When considering city driving, the additional energy demand increases the energy demand of a mid-size car in the standard driving cycle by one third. Reducing driving speeds and stops is not able to offset this increase in energy demand.