Better be private, shared, or pooled? Implications of three autonomous mobility scenarios in Lyon, France

Autonomous vehicles will be one of the most disruptive technologies of the automative industry. Their wider implications on society are expected to be considerable, even if these implications are still under debate. Meanwhile, various stakeholders, including cities and tech companies, are launching different AV pilot projects to test and help boost the technology readiness level. This research assesses some of the impacts of three AV mobility scenarios: private, shared, and pooled AVs in Lyon, France. An agent-based simulation framework is used (MATSim). Results suggest that AV services can reshuffle existing transportation dynamics by attracting a significant share of travel demand, especially from public transport and walking. If not regulated, these services can produce substantial excess travel distances and increase energy consumption and emissions of the transportation system. In this regard, pooled robotaxis are the least impactful introduction scenario of AVs compared to non-pooled robotaxis or private AVs.