The Sustainability and Energy Efficiency of Connected and Automated Vehicles from the Perspective of Public Acceptance towards Platoon Control

Abstract

This study examines the public acceptance of platoon control for connected and automated vehicles (CAVs) and analyzes it from a sustainability perspective. A questionnaire survey was conducted targeting a diverse social group to collect data on public attitudes, acceptability, and factors related to the environment, social responsibility, personal economy, and behavior. Factor analysis was then performed to reduce these data into three factors: “attitudes and acceptance”, “environment and social responsibility”, and “personal economy and behavior”. Further, multiple regression analysis was employed to investigate the relationship between these three factors and the willingness to accept platooning control, as well as the willingness to actively adopt it. The findings indicate that the ”attitude and acceptance” factor significantly influences the public’s acceptance of platoon control. Moreover, the ”environment and social responsibility” and ”personal economy and behavior” factors also have a certain influence on decision-making. This study not only contributes to understanding public attitudes towards CAVs’ platoon control but also explores how to promote the development of sustainable intelligent transportation systems. By gaining a better understanding of public attitudes, policymakers and relevant stakeholders can take measures to enhance the acceptance of CAVs, thereby driving the sustainable development of transportation systems.