IEEE Electrification - September 2019 - 21

communications may be able to provide easy connections to ensure that managing the battery and the
transactions involved, i.e., charging and billing, can be
accomplished simply and remotely while the vehicle is
parked. Future wireless smart grid technologies and
systems will likely be able to collect and measure energy usage and accurately summarize vehicle miles traveled and other measures of energy and transportation
efficiency. In the future, vehicle DSRC, 5G, or another
communication technology not only may provide reliable V2V communication but also may be leveraged to
provide smart grid support.
In urban areas, as MaaS continues to grow and vehicle
ownership declines, parking spaces may need to be repurposed as dropoff or pickup areas. These spaces need to
allow for ease in coming and going, so that ride-sharing
vehicles are not driving around aimlessly, waiting for a
pickup. This type of urban design will contribute to
reduced traffic congestion.
V2I DSRC or 5G-based communication applications at
parking facilities with EV charging stations may provide
ancillary connectivity to upload safety diagnostics data or
download credentials such as certificates that confirm
vehicle safety functions, i.e., operation of V2V cooperative
safety applications.

Smart Signals
Traditional traffic signals assign the right of way for otherwise conflicting vehicle and pedestrian movements at an
intersection. They provide safe and predictable movement
of all modes of traffic. Traditional traffic signals operate
based on fixed length-of-time and time-of-day settings.
However, smart traffic signals use adaptive signal controllers to continuously monitor, learn, predict, and respond
to traffic demands and conditions with the optimal signal timing for current conditions. The smart operation
of traffic signals results in decreased accidents,
improved flow of traffic, and reduced vehicle emissions.

Freight and Transit Movement
Freight delivery is continuing to grow in the United
States. Heavy-duty vehicles, or freight vehicles, contribute to air pollution. Because America moves more and
more freight each year, reducing emissions from this
sector is important. Electric trucks do not emit harmful
pollution and have lower emissions than trucks powered
by fossil fuels.
Transit agencies are leading the way by committing to
change out bus fleets with all-electric buses. Many major
cities have committed to all-electric fleets within the
next five to 10 years. The appropriate policies and investments from federal, state, and municipal governments
will accelerate the transition to zero-emission trucks and
buses. These policies include setting targets for electric
truck and bus adoption; enacting standards for manufacturers to make more all-EVs; and developing and funding

incentive programs to help states, cities, and companies
achieve these goals.
CAV technology is being developed, tested, and piloted for truck platooning. With truck platooning, two or
more trucks travel very closely to each other, thereby
reducing drag and fuel use. The widespread adoption of
truck platooning can lead to reduced traffic congestion
because vehicles spaced closely together increase a
roadway's capacity.

MaaS
Smart phone mobility applications that link different
transport modes allow for a better understanding of the
transportation network's capacity and flow. As urban
areas continue to grow, there is a strong movement away
from dependence on privately owned cars. MaaS, a
demand-responsive service, and its accompanying digital
platform are on the rise. These shared mobility services
will make vehicles more productive.
MaaS combines mobility services from public transportation, taxis, car rentals, and car/bicycle sharing under a
single platform accessible from a smartphone. It allows for
end-to-end trip planning. A MaaS platform will not only
plan your journey; it will also allow you to buy tickets from
a range of service providers. Open data sources will play a
vital role in MaaS platforms.
Stakeholder partnerships are key to the success of
MaaS. Developing new business models based on service
and sharing models, rather than car ownership, will be
important. Private sector participants may join the
movement in search of business opportunities, while
government agencies may seek the public-policy benefits that stem from reduced congestion, including higher
productivity, better air quality, fewer traffic accidents,
and a smaller urban footprint for parking. These benefits
will be gained only through a collaborative effort.
Once CAVs are accepted and licensed for roadway use,
mobility costs will decrease. Currently, the cost to the
driver is a major portion of the overall cost for a mobilityon-demand service. The growth of MaaS and an increase
in the number of CAVs may significantly alter urban
mobility patterns. MaaS provides the opportunity to
reduce transport costs, improve traffic congestion and
safety, and repurpose urban spaces that are currently
used for parking.
States may consider providing incentives for shared
CAVs to decrease congestion and offer competitively
priced alternatives for commuters who are not connected
to the public transportation system. MaaS can be used as
a way to manage traffic congestion by making more efficient use of existing private and public transportation
infrastructure. Also, MaaS may improve air quality by
shifting travelers from cars to more sustainable modes
and may provide an alternative way to move more people
and goods in a way that is faster, cleaner, and less expensive than current options.
	

IEEE Electrific ation Magazine / S EP T EM BE R 2 0 1 9

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IEEE Electrification - September 2019

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of IEEE Electrification - September 2019
