Evaluation indicators for road traffic energy consumption: a review and prospect

Indicators for evaluating road traffic energy consumption are critical parameters in the research field of road traffic energy consumption. Improving the applicability of energy consumption indicators can promote the development of green transportation in cities. However, there is currently a lack of systematic analysis of energy consumption indicators in research. Therefore, based on a comprehensive analysis of relevant literature, this study divides the indicators for evaluating road traffic energy consumption into two categories: macro (aimed at traffic systems or traffic flow) and micro (aimed at vehicles). These indicators are subdivided into four categories according to their application characteristics, including general, specific, predictive, and comprehensive. This paper provides a complete summary of various evaluation indicators, including their scope of application, advantages, and limitations, and highlights the relationships between them. Additionally, recommendations are made for the future development of evaluation indicators. Research has found that micro-level general indicators serve as the fundamental components of the mathematical structure for almost all other indicators. Specialized indicators primarily evaluate energy consumption in different driving states of vehicles. Predictive indicators are mainly used for assessing transportation energy consumption in simulation conditions. Comprehensive indicators are mainly applied to evaluate the life cycle energy consumption of vehicles or transportation systems. In future research, the performance of indicators can be improved through the design of standardized indicators, enhancement of energy consumption prediction accuracy, and integration of traffic flow parameters. The research contributes to upgrading energy-saving technologies in road transportation and developing sustainable urban transportation systems.