Analysis of rebound effects resulting from improved vehicle efficiency applied to the Berlin city network

Purpose This study analyses the effect of fuel efficiency technologies on the travel demand in the city of Berlin. Improved vehicle technologies can help to reduce the emissions in urban areas, where they have their highest – direct and indirect - impacts. In order to obtain high political endorsement, the environmental impact of road transportation on a city level is highly relevant. The EU-funded research project called eCoMove – Cooperative Systems for Cooperative Mobility for Energy Efficiency aims in developing a range of fuel efficiency assistance systems to tackle negative impacts resulting from road traffic. Method Recent testing of so called advanced driver assistance systems showed their ability to reduce fuel consumption and lower traffic emissions when providing driving recommendations to raise fuel efficiency. Three areas of impact were analysed: increase in car usage, effect on emission savings due to an increased travel demand and a comparison of travel demand changes from increasing transport costs and vehicle efficiency improvements. In order to tackle these points, a traffic demand model for the Berlin city network was further adapted. Findings Substantial vehicle fuel efficiency improvements lead to an increased travel demand for cars. Rebound effects do appear if travel demand changes from increasing transport prices and from improved vehicle efficiency are compared. Practical implications The existence and quantification of rebound effects serves as useful information for decision making processes when new technologies are being implemented. Originality/value of paper The proposed framework for analysing rebound effects helped to assess the impacts of energy efficiency technologies on a city level