Quantifying the external costs of autonomous on-demand ride pooling services

Abstract

Mobility On Demand (MOD) services, such as ride-pooling, provide convenient and cost-effective transportation options. While previous studies focused on operational costs and service quality, we take a broader perspective by examining the external costs associated with autonomous ride-pooling services. Incorporating external costs into the design and evaluation of MOD services enables a comprehensive understanding of their impact on the entire urban population, informing effective regulations and incentives. We present an approach for calculating space-varying external costs, accounting for factors like air pollution, climate impact, noise and accidents. These costs are integrated into FleetPy, an agent-based simulation tool for ridesharing analysis and optimization. A case study in Munich uncovers the tradeoffs between external costs, internal costs, and service quality. Our findings suggest that mid-sized vehicles with a three-person capacity strike a balance between energy efficiency and transport capacity. By applying our approach, external costs can be reduced by up to 37%.