Benefit Cost Analysis (BCA) of Autonomous and Connected Truck (ACT) Technology and Platooning

Introduction of connected vehicles (CVs) and automated vehicles (AVs) are anticipated to have significant impacts on transportation operation, including its infrastructure. The autonomous and connected trucks (ACT) can result in significant cost savings for the freight industry. The cooperative cruise control ( CACC) and vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) technologies allow a string of trucks travel in series that may increase road capacity and improve traffic flow. Shorter distance between trucks would save in fuel consumption due to reduced aerodynamic drag forces. This would result in emission reduction. In addition, an optimized and control truck wheel location can lead to a longer pavement service life would result in minimizing work-zone traffic delays. Connected and autonomous vehicle (CAV) technology also contributes to improving safety by reducing crash and injury rate. However, retrofitting existing trucks with CAV technologies or new trucks with CAV may be costly; therefore, a benefit cost analysis (BCA) of ACTs is proposed to determine net benefits of CAV technology implementation. An economic assessment of CAV technology is conducted using BCA for one of the busiest corridors in Illinois at various market penetrations of CAV.