Energy and Emissions Benefits of a Real-Time Driving Speed Advisory System for Heavy-Duty Trucks

Heavy-duty trucks are a critical component of the U.S. goods movement system; however, these trucks consume a large amount of fuel and emit a significant amount of pollutant and greenhouse gas emissions. One strategy that can improve fuel efficiency and reduce greenhouse gas emissions from trucking operations is eco-driving. A truck eco-driving program encourages or incentivizes truck drivers to embrace fuel-efficient vehicle operation and maintenance practices, such as avoiding hilly routes and heavy traffic, using moderate highway speeds, minimizing hard acceleration and braking, reducing unnecessary idling, and keeping the tires properly inflated, among others. In this study, we evaluate potential energy and emissions benefits of an advanced truck eco-driving support technology called Real-Time Driving Speed Advisory System, which provides recommended driving speed to truck driver based on the real-time traffic condition ahead of the truck. The study was conducted with 13 real truck drivers in a truck driving simulator environment. It was found that on average the Real-Time Driving Speed Advisory System could assist the drivers in reducing carbon dioxide, oxides of nitrogen, and fine particle emissions by 3.5%, 3.2%, and 8.1%, respectively. These findings provide important insight into the effectiveness of the system and how it may help improve energy efficiency and lower emissions from trucking operations.

• Supplemental Notes:
  • This paper was sponsored by TRB committee ADC20 Standing Committee on Transportation and Air Quality.
• Corporate Authors:

  Transportation Research Board

  500 Fifth Street, NW
  Washington, DC  United States  20001
• Authors:
  • Jin, Qiu
  • Boriboonsomsin, Kanok
  • Barth, Matthew
• Conference:
  • Transportation Research Board 95th Annual Meeting
  • Location: Washington DC, United States
  • Date: 2016-1-10 to 2016-1-14
• Date: 2016

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Digital/other
• Features: Figures; Maps; Photos; References; Tables;
• Pagination: 16p
• Monograph Title: TRB 95th Annual Meeting Compendium of Papers

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Driving simulators; Freight traffic; Fuel conservation; Heavy duty trucks; Pollutants; Speed
• Subject Areas: Energy; Freight Transportation; Highways; Vehicles and Equipment;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01592905
• Record Type: Publication
• Report/Paper Numbers: 16-6008
• Files: TRIS, TRB, ATRI
• Created Date: Mar 7 2016 10:46AM