01336761

Component

Automated Electric Transportation (AET) represents a new approach for surface transportation that addresses the major challenges associated with automobile dependency – energy, capacity, safety, and emissions. In urban areas, integrated multi-modal systems have made measurable impacts on the cost of urban transportation and the quality of urban life. Similar solutions are needed in areas that will rely on automobiles for the foreseeable future. AET does not seek to eliminate the automobile, but rather to improve it. To achieve this, AET proposes an electrified freeway system supporting in-motion energy transfer that will overcome challenges to electric vehicles (EVs) including battery weight, cost, and range. In addition, evolution from human-guided to automated vehicles has the potential to significantly increase freeway capacity through more efficient use of available roadway surfaces and higher speeds. AET operational concepts will allow for reduction of recurring congestion while eliminating driver-related crashes that generate non-recurring congestion. Favorable speed profiles combined with lower congestion levels will reduce the energy required to power the vehicles. In order for AET to be a viable concept, it is necessary for transportation and planning professionals to gain a quantitative understanding of AET benefits and costs. The goal of this paper is to introduce an evaluation framework that will serve as an integrating mechanism to gain a quantitative understanding of the costs, benefits, and challenges of achieving effective energy transfer and vehicle guidance, and extend the definitions of conventional highway performance to AET in areas of energy, capacity, safety, and emissions.

The DVD lists the title of this paper as: Evaluation Framework for Automated Electric Transportation Network.

01329018

11-2807

English

16p

2011

Transportation Research Board 90th Annual Meeting

DVD

Figures (4) ; References (13)

Electric vehicles; Energy consumption; Energy transfer; Ground transportation; Highway capacity; Integrated systems; Multimodal transportation; Pollutants; Quality of life; Traffic safety; Traffic speed; Transportation planning; Urban areas

Automobile dependency

Highways; Planning and Forecasting; I72: Traffic and Transport Planning

Transportation Research Board Annual Meeting 2011 Paper #11-2807

TRIS, TRB

Feb 17 2011 6:18PM