ITS Monday: Edition 41, 2024
ITS Monday is a small, weekly collection of curated content from the worlds of intelligent transport systems, smart mobility, and associated areas.
Included this week cars as batteries on wheels, street design, lithium-ion battery explainer, and new autonomous vehicle papers.
The article headlines below are:
- If cars become batteries on wheels, cities become power plants
- Transport for NSW: Design of roads and streets
- They’ve been described as the ‘fastest-growing fire risk’ – so why do lithium batteries keep exploding?
- From lane-less to lane-free: Implications in the era of automated vehicles
- Assessing public a priori acceptance of fully automated vehicles using an extended technology acceptance model and importance-performance analysis
This week’s articles
Now, scroll down, and see what’s in this week’s edition. Oh, and before you do, be sure check out the quickest way to receive our new content via the subscription box just below …
If cars become batteries on wheels, cities become power plants
“On Saturday, Energy Minister Chris Bowen announced a development that will transform the way energy is produced and consumed in Australia: vehicle-to-grid charging is here.”
Related iMOVE articles:
- The Conductor Series: The electrification of transport
- Electric Vehicles: Info, Projects & Resources
Related iMOVE project:
READ THE ARTICLE
Transport for NSW: Design of roads and streets
First released in 2022, this document was modified in late October 2024. The report is downloadable from the link.”This guide is for road and street design practitioners working at a local or state level for local councils, government agencies, private consultants, developers and service providers.”
Related iMOVE articles:
Related iMOVE project:
- Safer cycling infrastructure: Design and policy
- Improving Darebin’s streets: The community speaks
- Evaluation and implementation of shared spaces in NSW
An explainer: what devices and vehicles use lithium-ion batteries, why they catch on fire, battery quality, and how to prevent battery fires.
Related iMOVE article:
- Liar, liar, e-Bikes on fire
- Micromobilty: Info, Projects & Resources
- Active Transport: Info, Projects & Resources
Related iMOVE project:
READ THE ARTICLE
From lane-less to lane-free: Implications in the era of automated vehicles
A new academic article, co-authored by Abebe Dress Beza, Zhuopeng Xie, Mohsen Ramezani and David Levinson. The abstract:
“Advances in autonomous vehicle (AV) technology and research into connected autonomous vehicle (CAV) technology have renewed interest in lane-free traffic. The present study reviews a large body of scientific literature to explore the potential impacts of lane-less and lane-free traffic streams and examines the control strategies and trends of lane-free traffic through the lens of future transport.
The findings indicate that lane-free traffic has the potential to positively impact road traffic, including an increase in traffic performance and a rise in road infrastructure capacity due to efficient space use and the seepage behavior of small-sized vehicles (e.g., motorized two-wheelers) in mixed traffic scenarios.
Furthermore, studies on lane-less traffic with human-driven vehicles can provide essential insights into the potential behavior of lane-free AV traffic and how AVs might be programmed and designed to operate safely and effectively in complex settings. For instance, a lane-free traffic setting could be a better option for improving traffic flow when AVs vary in size, and seepage behavior can be incorporated into the driving characteristics of AVs.”
Related iMOVE articles:
- Autonomous Driving Info, Projects & Resources
- Autonomous Driving Technology
- Connected Vehicles: Info, Projects & Resources
Related iMOVE projects:
- C-ITS national harmonisation and pre-deployment research
- Environmental impacts of Connected and Automated Vehicles
- Safely deploying automated vehicles on Australian roads
A second new academic article for this week, and a second on the topic of autonomous vehicles, this one co-authored by Sina Rejali, Kayvan Aghabayk, and Nirajan Shiwakoti. The abstract:
“Fully automated vehicles (FAVs) are anticipated to enter the passenger vehicle market soon. Given the uncertainties surrounding user adoption of this emerging technology, research is needed to understand their user acceptance. While most studies on the acceptance of automated vehicles have been conducted in upper-middle-income or high-income developed countries, similar research in middle-income countries is limited.
This study aims to evaluate a priori acceptance of FAVs in a middle-income developing country by extending the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM). Trust, subjective norms, perceived safety risk and four decision-making styles (Thoroughness, Hesitancy, Social resistance, and Perfectionism) were included in the extended model. This study aims to evaluate a priori acceptance of FAVs in a middle-income developing country by extending the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM).
Trust, subjective norms, perceived safety risk and four decision-making styles (Thoroughness, Hesitancy, Social resistance, and Perfectionism) were included in the extended model. Structural Equation Modeling was applied to confirm model validation by using data from 1026 drivers from different cities in Iran. A multi-group analysis was conducted to assess whether the relationships between model constructs vary across different demographic and background groups. Additionally, an importance-performance analysis was performed to gain a deeper understanding of the factors influencing behavioral intention.
The findings of the model highlighted that beyond the original TAM scales, subjective norms were the strongest predictor in explaining drivers’ intentions to use FAVs. Initial trust also moderately contributed to explaining user acceptance of FAVs. The results also revealed that among decision-making styles, thoroughness positively affected behavioral intention through trust, while social resistance had an indirect negative effect on intention.
The findings showed that effect of the perceived safety risk on behavioral intention through the initial trust was confirmed; however, importance-performance map analysis revealed that a significant improvement was observed in the safety area that could still be obtained.
It is suggested that policymakers start promoting the usefulness and ease of use of FAVs through advertisements, social media, public campaigns and autonomous vehicle test ride events to facilitate the adoption of FAVs when available in countries with similar sociocultural contexts.”
READ THE ARTICLEWe used to send out a weekly newsletter, ITS Weekly Roundup, a collection of ITS- and mobility-related news from across the world. ITS Monday is a replacement for that, a collection of links to news and opinion pieces, academic papers, and more. Additionally, you can follow us on Linkedin and Twitter, both of which have a focus on iMOVE news and projects, or subscribe to our bi-monthly newsletter.
*Inclusion in ITS Monday does not equal iMOVE endorsement. It’s more aimed at discovery, thought, or discussion … or all of those and more. And while for the most part I expect content to be current, a little age doesn’t mean diminished interest.
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