Author(s)

Peter Andersson, Pernilla Ivehammar

Division of Economics, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden.

Autonomous vehicles are currently developed, and are expected to be introduced gradually. Society needs a basis for decisions regarding market interventions. This study identifies, quantifies and values the benefits and costs of autonomous trucks and cars considering generalized costs, external effects and social marginal cost pricing to consumers with Swedish data. The results show that the greatest benefits are saved driver costs for trucks and decreased travel time costs for car drivers. In the example calculations, capital costs may increase by 22 percent for cars and 36 percent for trucks for benefits to exceed costs in 2025. Subsidies are not needed since the producers and consumers get the major benefits and pay the costs.

Autonomous Vehicles, Self-Driving Vehicles, Benefits, Generalized Cost, Social Marginal Cost, Policy

Andersson, P. and Ivehammar, P. (2019) Benefits and Costs of Autonomous Trucks and Cars. Journal of Transportation Technologies, 9, 121-145. doi: 10.4236/jtts.2019.92008.