Abstract
After the awareness-raising of recent years for coping with the global societal, economic and environmental challenges, the need for sustainable planning in the transport sector has become even more evident. Initiatives aiming at promoting sustainable and innovative mobility solutions, especially in urban areas where mobility needs are higher and transport problems are more intense, have been launched by different organizations around the world. In this context, autonomous electric vehicles are emerging as a promising solution; however, they are accompanied by new infrastructure requirements, along with safety concerns. Policymakers will be confronted with an array of choices, such as plug-in or wireless, dynamic or stationary charging and mixed flow with conventional vehicles or dedicated lanes, taking into account the uncertain impacts of innovation on safety and sustainability. Within this scope, these infrastructure alternatives are evaluated and prioritized, for the first time, in the present study, through the combined application of two hybrid multi-criteria analysis models, with the participation of experts. The analysis is based on a set of safety and sustainability criteria. Road safety and exposure to electromagnetic radiation emerge as the most important criteria, with the optimum solution—based on current data—consisting of plug-in charging and the circulation of autonomous electric vehicles in dedicated lanes.
Highlights
IntroductionThe transport system plays a key role in socio-economic development by physically connecting the locations where various activities are conducted
The application of the two multi-criteria analyses (MCA) models resulted in the identification of an optimum solution for autonomous electric vehicles in urban areas, integrating safety and sustainability aspects, this being the alternative of lanes dedicated to autonomous electric vehicles with plug-in charging stations beside the road, along the route
The experience drawn from conducting the research that is presented in this paper shows that the decision on the appropriate infrastructure for autonomous electric vehicles depends on the selection between alternatives with different maturity levels, in terms of technology readiness and real-life implementation
Summary
The transport system plays a key role in socio-economic development by physically connecting the locations where various activities are conducted. It is widely accepted that the transport system produces external impacts on society and the economy, as well as on the environment. The intensification of climate change and air quality problems, and the depletion of natural resources during past decades, in combination with the ongoing increase in mobility demand and the challenges that persist regarding safety, accessibility and affordability, highlight even more the significance of decision-making concerning transport development within the framework of sustainability. In Europe, mainly as a result of improvements in vehicle technology, roadway design and regulatory and policy interventions, the number of persons killed in road traffic accidents has continuously decreased since 2009 [1]. The problem persists in densely populated European cities, where 38% of road fatalities take place, 70%
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