Shared Autonomous Vehicles as a Sustainable Solution to the Last Mile Problem: A Case Study of Ann Arbor-Detroit Area
Abstract
The problem of accessibility to public transit is well-documented in transportation theory and network literature, and is known as the last mile problem. A lack of first and last mile transit services impairs access to public transit causing commuters to opt for private modes of transit over public modes. This paper analyzes the implications of a shared autonomous vehicle (AV) taxi system providing last mile transit services in terms of environmental, cost, and performance metrics. Conventional public transit options and a hypothetical last-mile shared autonomous vehicle (SAV) system are analyzed for transit between Ann Arbor and Detroit Wayne County Airport for life cycle energy, emissions, total travel time, and travel costs. In the case study, energy savings from using public transit options with AV last mile service were as high as 37% when compared to a personal vehicle option. Energy and greenhouse gas burdens were very sensitive to vehicle powertrain and ridership parameters. The results suggest that an AV taxi service providing last-mile transit services could enhance the sustainability of transit by influencing a mode shift from private modes to public modes of transit. Wait times associated with public transit options, as well as high AV technology costs, could be obstacles for a last mile service.
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A 37% of energy savings is possible when AVs are used in conjunction with public transport in lieu of personal car.
“Another study shows a 37% of energy savings is possible when AVs are used in conjunction with public transport in lieu of personal car”
From Understanding autonomous vehicles: A systematic literature review on capability, impact, planning and policy (2019) · cites this paper as Moorthy, De Kleine, Keoleian, Good, & Lewis, 2017
These options can support multi-modal traffic in urban areas and thereby reduce the number of vehicle-km.
“On the one hand, these options can support multi-modal traffic in urban areas and thereby reduce the number of vehicle-km [137,138].”
From Material efficiency strategies to reducing greenhouse gas emissions associated with buildings, vehicles, and electronics—a review (2019) · cites this paper as [137]
Car-sharing services using AVs could yield GHG emission savings when they encourage public transit use or with autonomous EVs.
“Car-sharing services using AVs could yield GHG emission savings when they encourage people to use public transit for part of the journey [552] or with autonomous EVs [408].”
From Tackling climate change with machine learning (2023) · cites this paper as [552]
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Shared autonomous vehicle services: A comprehensive review
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Tackling climate change with machine learning
Rolnick, D., Donti, P. L., Kaack, L. H., Kochanski, K., Lacoste, A., Sankaran, K., Ross, A. S., Milojevic-Dupont, N., Jaques, N., Waldman-Brown, A., et al. (2023) · ACM Computing Surveys · doi:10.1145/3485128 · Cited by 336 · see citing works
- Authors
- Moorthy, A., De Kleine, R., Keoleian, G., Good, J., & Lewis, G.
- Affiliations
- University of Michigan (US)
- Ford Motor Company
- Venue
- SAE International Journal of Passenger Cars - Electronic and Electrical Systems
- Publisher
- SAE International
- Published
- 2017-03-28
- Volume
- 10
- Issue
- 2
- Pages
- 328-336
- ISSN
- 1946-4614 (ISSN-L)
- 1946-4622
- OpenAlex
- W2586864967
- Cited by
- 93
- References
- 10
- Citations by year
- 2026: 2 · 2025: 11 · 2024: 15 · 2023: 13 · 2022: 14 · 2021: 16 · 2020: 10 · 2019: 7 · 2018: 5
- FWCI
- 3.82
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- SAE International journal of passenger cars. Electronic and electrical systems (publishedVersion)
- Funders
- University of Michigan
- Topics
- Physical Sciences › Engineering › Automotive Engineering › Transportation and Mobility Innovations
- Social Sciences › Transportation › Transportation Planning and Optimization
- Physical Sciences › Engineering › Electrical and Electronic Engineering › Electric Vehicles and Infrastructure
- Keywords
- shared autonomous vehicles, public transport accessibility, life cycle energy, greenhouse gas emissions, travel time, travel cost, modal shift, drivetrain, ridership, sustainable transport
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