How Autonomous Vehicles May Affect Vehicle Emissions on Motorways

Τhe objective of the present research is to investigate the vehicle emissions that may be produced in mixed traffic conditions of autonomous vehicles and human drivers on motorways. For this purpose, simulation scenarios will be developed in a specific part of Attiki Odos motorway, a modern motorway extending along 70 km, which constitutes the ring road of the greater metropolitan area of Athens and the backbone of the road network of the whole Attica prefecture. Attiki Odos is an urban motorway, with two separate directional carriageways, each consisting of 3 lanes and an emergency lane. For the purpose of the present research, peak hour traffic demand is estimated from 7:00 to 9:00, while both congested, as well as uncongested conditions will be simulated. To achieve this objective, five simulation scenarios are developed, including different percentages of automated and human driven vehicles (0%, 25%, 50%, 75% and 100% of AVs) while NOx and CO emissions are investigated in each scenario. Results indicate that Autonomous Vehicles have the potential to increase the emissions on the motorway. Additionally, the specific increase of emissions is estimated in all different scenarios of autonomous vehicles’ percentages in the mixed traffic scenarios.