Environmental Impact Assessment: Externalities of Automated Electric Vehicles for Public Transport

Abstract

This chapter provides a comprehensive analysis of the economic and environmental externalities associated with the use of automated minibuses in public transport, using a mixture of scenario planning and an externality model in the context of the AVENUE project cities. By analysing six different deployment scenarios, including the substitution of automated minibuses for buses and private cars, this study sheds light on the potential shifts in external costs and benefits. This chapter carefully assesses the impact of the deployment of automated minibuses on reducing external costs, taking into account factors such as energy efficiency, connectivity, automation features passenger numbers and vehicle utilisation rates. The results show that the environmental and economic outcomes of deploying automated minibuses depend significantly on the specific deployment strategies, highlighting scenarios in which automated minibuses could either reduce or exacerbate external costs. Through a detailed assessment of these scenarios, the chapter provides a nuanced understanding of how the strategic integration of automated minibuses into urban transport systems can influence the broader goals of economic sustainability and environmental protection. The study emphasises the importance of aligning automated minibus deployment strategies with city-specific goals and the broader sustainability agenda and provides valuable insights for policymakers, urban planners and transport stakeholders.