Advanced "connected eco-driving" provides real-time advice to drivers based on real-time traffic and infrastructure conditions using communications technology as part of the connected vehicle concept. With connected eco-driving, even greater fuel and emission savings can be achieved without compromising traffic mobility. The concept of connected eco-driving takes advantage of real-time traffic sensing and infrastructure information, which can then be communicated to a vehicle with a goal of reducing fuel consumption and emissions. This dissertation focuses on connected eco-driving on arterial roadways with traffic control signals, referred to as "Eco-Approach and Departure" for signalized arterial roadways.
An initial dynamic Eco-Approach and Departure algorithm was initially developed for a single vehicle for fixed-timed signals, described in detail in Chapter 4. This algorithm shows individual vehicle fuel consumption and CO2 reductions of around 10% - 15. The benefits have been proved by another research done by Li, etc. [11]. It was found that there are also significant indirect network-wide energy and emissions benefits on the overall traffic [27], even at low penetration rates of the technology-equipped vehicles.
An additional amount of fuel is wasted on unnecessary acceleration/idling when the vehicle is departing the intersection. Therefore an enhanced eco-approach and departure algorithm [35] was developed that utilizes not only SPaT message but also the information of preceding equipped vehicles for better speed trajectory planning.
Lastly, the calibration criteria for microsimulation model itself were evaluated and a new set of processes to calibrate microscopic traffic model has been proposed.
Other connected eco-driving applications such as Eco-Speed Harmonization and General Eco-Driving Principles can also be coupled with the eco-approach and departure application to further improve fuel economy and reduce emissions. Another concept named Cooperative Adaptive Cruise Control was modeled in simulations (described in Chapter X) and can be coupled with the eco-approach and departure and other applications.
