Fuel Consumption in Platoons: A Literature Review

TL;DR

This literature review comprehensively examines how vehicle platooning affects fuel consumption, analyzing key factors, methods, and challenges to optimize fuel savings in automated vehicle systems.

Contribution

It synthesizes recent research on platooning's impact on fuel efficiency, highlighting components, influencing factors, and the effects of instability, providing a holistic overview.

Findings

Reduced aerodynamic drag significantly lowers fuel use.

Vehicle coordination improves platoon fuel efficiency.

Instability challenges can diminish potential savings.

Abstract

Platooning has emerged as a promising strategy for improving fuel efficiency in automated vehicle systems, with significant implications for reducing emissions and operational costs. While existing literature on vehicle platooning primarily focuses on individual aspects such as aerodynamic drag reduction or specific control strategies, this work takes a more comprehensive approach by bringing together a wide range of factors and components that contribute to fuel savings in platoons. In this literature review, we examine the impact of platooning on fuel consumption, highlighting the key components of platoon systems, the factors and actors influencing fuel savings, methods for estimating fuel use, and the effect of platoon instability on efficiency. Furthermore, we study the role of reduced aerodynamic drag, vehicle coordination, and the challenges posed by instability in real-world conditions. By compiling insights from recent studies, this work provides a comprehensive overview of the latest advancements in platooning technologies and highlights both the challenges and opportunities for future research to maximize fuel savings in real-world scenarios.