Shared autonomous vehicle simulation and service design. (October 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Vosooghi, Reza; Puchinger, Jakob; Jankovic, Marija; Vouillon, Anthony
• Is Part Of: Transportation research. Volume 107(2019)
• Page Start: 15
• Page End: 33
• Publication Date: 2019-10
• Subjects: Shared autonomous vehicle -- Multi-agent simulation -- Demand modeling -- Service performance; Transportation -- Periodicals; Transportation -- Technological innovations -- Periodicals; 388.011
• DOI: 10.1016/j.trc.2019.08.006
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0968-090X

Abstract

Highlights: The performance of SAV is strongly correlated with the fleet size. Optimum fleet sizes for the individual ride and ridesharing services are different. Enabling vehicle rebalancing has a profound effect on service performance. The benefits of more than 4 seats in SAVs are limited. Impact estimation of SAVs should consider dynamic demand and multimodal network. Abstract: Today, driverless cars, as a new technology that allows a more accessible, dynamic and intelligent form of Shared Mobility, are expected to revolutionize urban transportation. One of the conceivable mobility services based on driverless cars is shared autonomous vehicles (SAVs). This service could merge cabs, carsharing, and ridesharing systems into a singular transportation mode. However, the success and competitiveness of future SAV services depend on their operational models, which are linked intrinsically to the service configuration and fleet specification. In addition, any change in operational models will result in a different demand. Using a comprehensive framework of SAV simulation in a multimodal dynamic demand system with integrated SAV user taste variation, this study evaluates the performance of various SAV fleets and vehicle capacities serving travelers across the Rouen Normandie metropolitan area in France. Also, the impact of ridesharing and rebalancing strategies on service performance is investigated. Research results suggest that the performance of SAV is strongly correlated with the fleet size and the strategy of individual or shared rides. Further analysis indicates that for the pricing scheme proposed in this study (i.e., 20% lower for ridesharing scenario), the standard 4-seats car with shared ride remains the best option among all scenarios. The results also underline that enabling vehicle-rebalancing strategies may have an important effect on both user and service-related metrics. The estimated SAV average and maximum driven distance prove the importance of vehicle range and charging station deployment.