Impact of autonomous vehicles on air quality and energy efficiency of road traffic flows – a case study in an urban roundabout

Abstract

Due to the likely market penetration of autonomous vehicles (AVs) in the short-medium term, several studies have analysed their environmental impact due to changes in demand patterns or market models. However, there is little research on the operational impact of AVs on air quality. This work aims to explore several scenarios of Avs penetration with different driving patterns and anticipate the potential impacts of traffic performance, emissions, and air quality. An urban intersection was used as a case study, namely a roundabout located in a critical context from the air pollution exposure point of view. Results show that the introduction of Avs may lead to higher travel times at peak hours and increased emissions, mainly due to AVs with defensive behaviour. Regarding air quality, the introduction of AVs led to a degradation of air quality, especially during peak hours.