Use of Autonomous Vehicles for Running Errands and Future Autonomous Vehicle Adoption

How Will Use of Autonomous Vehicles for Running Errands Affect Future Autonomous Vehicle Adoption and Ownership?

​Principal Investigator: Ram M. Pendyala, Director, School of Sustainable Engineering and the Built Environment
Co-Principal Investigator: Sara Khoeini, Assistant Research Professor, School of Sustainable Engineering and the Built Environment
Project Duration: 12 months
​Project Budget (Federal UTC Funds): N/A
Project Budget (Cost-share): N/A
Institution: Arizona State University

Abstract
Concerned with the potentially deleterious effects of having personal AVs running errands autonomously, this research project aims to shed light on the level of interest in sending AVs to run errands and how that variable affects the intent to own an AV. Using data from the T4 Survey, the relationship is explored through a joint model system estimated using the Generalized Heterogeneous Data Model (GHDM) methodology. Results show that even after accounting for socio-economic and demographic variables as well as latent attitudinal constructs, the level of interest in having AVs run errands has a positive and significant effect on AV ownership intent. The findings point to the need for policies that would steer the entry and use of AVs in the marketplace in ways that avoid a dystopian future where personally owned AVs would be personally owned by households – enabling people to live farther away from destinations, inducing additional travel, and roaming roadways with zero occupants. The project has been fully completed in the preceding reporting period.

Research Products and Implementation

Scope of Work (coming soon)

​​Final Report (coming soon)