Energy and environmental benefits of truck platooning for a busy freight corridor

Cooperative Truck Platooning Systems (CTPS) have been demonstrated, in controlled testing environments, to yield significant energy savings, while real-world trials have shown much lower benefits. A simulation-based study was undertaken for a busy freight corridor in Canada, to examine the potential fuel savings and emissions reductions associated with the introduction of CTPS, while accounting for many of the variables previously neglected in feasibility and economic analyses. Results demonstrate lower benefits than previously predicted, closer to those observed in on-road trials. Upwards of 6.5 % savings are possible for platoons no longer than four trucks with a minimum 15 m separation distance, with only 3.7 % overall savings when a 60 % usage rate is assumed. This provides emissions reductions of about 100 kT of CO 2 per year (about 0.2 % of Canada’s current heavy-freight transportation emissions). Additionally, CTPS benefits are further reduced with precipitation- and location-based usage restrictions for the same simulation conditions.