Delivering greener motoring through ITS technologies

ITS (Integrated Transport System) technologies have the potential to make a meaningful and growing contribution to cutting the environmental damage caused by vehicles and helping meet the ever tougher emissions standards demanded by governments. In a landmark report for the motor industry, leading consultants SBD identify and analyse ‘green’ ITS applications that can combat greenhouse gas emissions and other pollutants by reducing traffic congestion.

SBD’s new study, The Environmental Benefits of Green ITS Technologies, is the first independent investigation into the way in which more sophisticated traffic management and driver assistance systems can help lessen the environmental impact caused by motoring. It also demonstrates how the efficiencies they can deliver could make them a key element in negotiations between governments and vehicle manufacturers in setting future emissions standards.

David McClure, SBD’s Director of ITS, said: “We have taken an important initiative in producing this report, looking beyond the efficiencies that can be achieved through vehicle and powertrain design to explore for the first time the role ITS technologies can play in achieving greener transport solutions.”

ACEA, the body that represents European car manufacturers, has recently emphasised the need for wider co-ordination of efforts to help shape EU legislation for vehicle carbon emissions reductions beyond 2012, shifting the focus from purely vehicle technologies to take in associated factors, such as fuels and road users. As manufacturers near the limits of what can economically be gained through engine and vehicle design, SBD sees the benefits available from ITS applications as a potentially vital element in future negotiations between industry and the EU.

Vehicle pollution is at its highest in stop-start conditions. Navigation and intelligent traffic information systems work to keep traffic flowing freely by informing the driver about congestion and providing advice and automatic guidance on alternative routes. In-vehicle and portable systems are already widely available and development of technology whereby vehicles can communicate with each other (V2V) or the local infrastructure (V2I) is advancing.

Reducing the number of accidents on the road also plays an important part in minimising congestion and SBD’s report looks further at the benefits available from the latest ADAS (Advanced Driver Assistance Systems) applications, such as Blind Sport Monitoring and Lane Departure Warning. Adaptive Cruise Control, Intelligent Speed Adaptation and Electronic Toll collection (ETC) help promote smoother driving, which in turn aids engine efficiency and reduces emissions.

With most European governments minded against building more roads to increase traffic capacity, measures are being identified to reduce the demand for driving, or at least make drivers think more carefully about the need for their journey. ITS will play a key part in this through ETC and pay-as-you-drive systems for road charging and insurance.

SBD concludes that more research is needed to confirm the environmental benefits to be gained through green ITS technologies and produce the hard data the industry’s decision makers and governments will need in order to push ahead with deployment.