Research on microscopic traffic flow modeling and energy characteristics in the energy-saving driving environment

The ongoing global energy crisis and implementation of the “carbon peak, carbon neutrality” policy have increased drivers' propensity to drive energy efficiency. It is vital to model the energy-saving traffic flow phenomenon and find its energy consumption characteristics. This paper constructs the desired energy consumption speed model (a continuous function) for the first time. Next, an improved full-velocity difference model (E-FVDM) with the energy-saving coefficient is proposed to characterize the energy-saving traffic flow properties. Additionally, the E-FVDM stability condition is analyzed via linear stability theory. The numerical simulation findings demonstrate that traffic flow simulated by the E-FVDM has a smaller speed amplitude, a later congestion arrival time, and a lower congestion severity when compared to the full velocity difference model. The total energy consumption of the simulated traffic flow is reduced by up to 57% when employing the E-FVDM with a higher energy-saving coefficient. The average energy consumption evolves more quickly as the flow increases. When the energy-saving coefficient increases, the flow intensity of the following vehicle's total energy consumption to kinetic energy, air resistance energy consumption, and road frictional resistance energy consumption increase, while the flow intensity to the internal energy consumption of the vehicle drops. The phase transition features of the traffic flow states can be obtained in the energy intensity index curve of air resistance energy consumption. This study can offer technical assistance for reducing emissions and conserving energy in the transportation sector.