The introduction of automated vehicles and its implications for society and the environment

Abstract

The findings in this paper show the big potential contributions of automated cars to improvements of the
ecologic situation and social inclusion in the mobility market. These potential effects are however dependent on
the future use cases of this new technology and will only materialise if implemented as shared mobility. Based
on today's mobility behaviour, the number of vehicles will be reduced up to -80% if cars are shared, and up to
-90% if rides are shared as well. Analysing existing sharing initiatives, the implementation of shared automated
mobility can be seen ambivalently. On the one hand, a missing driver has some disadvantages as she/he plays an
important role if accompanying specific user groups such as the disabled, elderly or children. On the other hand,
the system would be much more efficient as cars are not sitting idle being parked at places not accessible to the
next client. In the absence of shared mobility models, there is a high risk of an increase of private car use as new
user groups are included, and as the convenience of traveling will increase in general through automated cars.