Planning Perspectives on Rural Connected, Autonomous and Electric Vehicle Implementation

Joseph G. Walters, Stuart Marsh and Lucelia Rodrigues
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Joseph G. Walters: Nottingham Geospatial Institute, University of Nottingham, Triumph Road, Nottingham NG7 2TU, UK
Stuart Marsh: Nottingham Geospatial Institute, University of Nottingham, Triumph Road, Nottingham NG7 2TU, UK
Lucelia Rodrigues: Department of Architecture and Built Environment, University of Nottingham, University Park, Nottingham NG7 2RD, UK

Sustainability, 2022, vol. 14, issue 3, 1-20

Abstract: Connected, autonomous and electric vehicles (CAEV) are a powerful combined transport technology looking to disrupt the automotive sector and drive the transition to safe, accessible, clean and sustainable transport systems. The trialling of private, public and shared CAEV technologies is occurring in cities around the world; however, historically isolated and transport-poor rural communities may have the most to gain from CAEV implementation. Despite the accessibility and transport safety needs of rural communities, rural CAEV trials are few in the UK. Therefore, this paper investigates the hypothesis that the lack of rural implementation research and trials means that rural transport planners are ill-informed and uncertain of both the potential of CAEVs and their implementation requirements to meet rural community transport needs. This investigation consists of consultations with UK-based transport planning professionals to establish their perspectives on CAEV technologies and their rural implementation potential. The findings show that 96% of transport planners lack sufficient understanding of CAEV technology and its implementation challenges. However, the findings also highlight a willingness, given the opportunity, for transport planners to engage with CAEV technologies and apply them to specifically rural scenarios.

Keywords: connected vehicles; autonomous vehicles; electric vehicles; rural communities; sustainable transport; accessibility; transport planning; intelligent transport systems (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (3)

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