Feasibility Of CAV Delivery Service In Rural Areas

Abstract

Urban areas have been experiencing pilot deployments of automated delivery technology. However, the benefits may be much more significant for rural areas with delivery distances of 20 miles or longer to the large potential savings in travel time, travel cost, and crash risk. In rural areas, distances are longer, the fatality rate is higher (2.1 times higher in rural areas than in urban areas in 2017) and rural residents commonly drive larger, less fuel-efficient vehicles, which increases operation and ownership costs. The feasibility analysis of a CAV delivery service in rural areas is the objective of this research. A detailed methodology was developed and applied to two case studies; one between Hilo and Volcano Village in Hawaii, as a case of deliveries over a moderate distance (~50 mile roundtrip) in a high-cost environment, and between Spokane and Sprague in Washington State, as a case of deliveries over a long distance (~80 mile roundtrip) in a low-cost environment. The case study comprises the market study for grocery requirements of an average family and the detailed transport costs associated with its delivery. Three light-duty delivery vehicles were chosen, all based on a similar Nissan van. They are a person-driven NV200 (gasoline), a person-driven e-NV200 (electric), and a CAV e-NV200. The case study results suggest that the CAV e-NV200 is the most viable option implementing a delivery business for rural areas based on a break even analysis that did not monetize accident risk and crash costs.