eCoMove

eCoMove comprises pre-trip, on-trip and post-trip applications that support drivers (of both passenger cars and trucks) and transport planners, and applications to optimise traffic management and control. Examples of applications are ecoGreen Wave, ecoParking Advice, ecoDriver Support, ecoNavigation. Also, several core technologies and components are developed that can be used by multiple applications, for example the ecoMap, ecoMessages, ecoModels and the ecoEmission Estimation component. The prefix "eco" indicates that the primary goal of eCoMove is to make traffic and transport more environmentally friendly. It is clear, however, that other possible effects like travel times and traffic safety also have to be considered. The applications, components and core technologies use the latest vehicle-to-infrastructure and vehicle-to-vehicle communication technologies. This means that in-vehicle applications exchange information with the traffic management and control applications.

Testing the eCoMove system

The eCoMove applications, components and core technologies are tested in the field, in driving simulators and in microscopic traffic simulations. Several test vehicles, from different car and truck manufacturers, will do tests on urban test sites in Helmond, Munich, Turin and on French Motorways. There is a common verification and validation process, in order to be able to draw conclusions about whether the complete eCoMove system does what it was intended to do and will indeed be able to increase energy efficiency by 20%. The assessment includes a cost-benefit analysis. Also, a roadmap for the implementation of the eCoMove system will be drawn up and barriers to implementation will be identified.

TNO's role

TNO is involved in the development of several cooperative traffic light control applications, as well as an application that optimises speeds and headways on motorways. To support traffic management and control applications, TNO develops the ecoStrategic Model, which provides information on the current, predicted and desired traffic and environmental states of the network. The ecoEmission Estimation component, based on TNO's emission model VERSIT+, can be used by the ecoStrategic Model and the applications to calculate emissions based on microscopic or meso/macroscopic traffic data. An important part of this R&D project is the validation (with field tests, and driving simulator and microscopic traffic simulation studies) and impact assessment of eCoMove. TNO acts as Evaluation Manager and leads the cost-benefit analysis, integration of validation results and eCoMove implementation road map.