Reducing Traffic Congestion with ITS
An automobile’s fuel efficiency depends not just on the car’s own
capabilities but also on the driving environment and the way it is driven.
Nissan is actively working to create infrastructure that will help to improve
the traffic environment. Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS) are a particularly
important part of its efforts, and the company is collaborating with others in
a variety of industries to craft solutions to tough problems like road
congestion that automakers cannot tackle on their own.
Under commission from Japan’s New Energy and Industrial Technology
Development Organization (NEDO), Nissan has been working with the
Beijing Municipal Commission of Transport since 2010. It is conducting
tests with a dynamic route guidance system (DRGS) using IT terminals and
eco-driving support to alleviate traffic congestion in the city.
In one experiment, around 12,000 ordinary drivers in Beijing’s
Wangjing district used Portable Navigation Devices with DRGS and ecodriving
support. Results from the experiment, which lasted around one year,
showed that DRGS cut travel time by 5.1% and increased fuel economy * by
7.6%. Enabling drivers to avoid congested roads led to the dispersion of
traffic flow, enhancing overall speed within the area. Furthermore, by helping
users cultivate better driving habits, eco-driving support increased fuel
economy by 6.8%.
A simulation conducted at the same time calculated that if 10% of all
traffic in Beijing used DRGS, travel speed throughout the city would
increase by approximately 10% and both fuel consumption and CO2
emissions would decrease by approximately 10%.
Nissan will apply the results of these experiments as it strives to
improve urban environments and air quality.