The Potential of ITS to Enhance Co-modality and Decarbonise Passenger Transport in Europe

Abstract

Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS) are expected to provide valuable contributions to a more integrated and sustainable passenger transport system in the future. In this paper we studied the potential role three ITS applications (personalised travel information, car sharing schemes and mobile payment devices) could have in enhancing co-modality and decarbonising EU passenger transport. Based on a thorough review of existing and planned schemes, the mobility impacts of these ITS applications were estimated for single ‘model’ countries. To estimate the EU-wide decarbonisation potential of the options, a scaling methodology was developed, taking country specific aspects affecting the effectiveness of these schemes into account. The results of our analyses showed that particularly personalised travel information and mobile payment devices could significantly contribute to decarbonising the EU passenger transport system (1 - 3% and 0.5 - 1%, respectively) although the estimated CO2 reduction figures are rather uncertain. Further research on this topic is for that reason highly recommended.