THE IMPACT OF ROAD INFRASTRUCTURE ON FUEL CONSUMPTION AND EMISSIONS OF A ROAD VEHICLE – A CASE STUDY

PEČMAN, Jan; ŠARKAN, Branislav; LIŽBETINOVÁ, Lenka · 2025 · Crossref

DOI: 10.20858/tp.2025.20.3.13

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Summary

This study investigates the underexplored influence of road infrastructure geometry and traffic engineering characteristics on the fuel consumption and pollutant emissions of road vehicles. While existing research and regulatory frameworks, such as the European Union’s Green Deal and upcoming EURO 7 standards, primarily focus on vehicle technology and restrictive measures like low-emission zones, this paper argues that road design is a critical, modifiable factor in achieving carbon neutrality. The research aims to quantify how specific infrastructure elements—such as gradients, intersection types, and traffic flow disruptions—affect real-world operational efficiency, contrasting these findings with standardized laboratory tests like WLTP and NEDC. The methodology involved a case study using real-world data collected from a petrol-powered Fiat 500 mild-hybrid passenger car compliant with Euro 6 standards. Measurements were conducted on a 16 km route within the urban area of Žilina, Slovakia, on March 22, 2022, under stable climatic conditions. The vehicle was equipped with a GPS sensor for spatial tracking and a MAHA MGT 5 exhaust gas analyzer to measure carbon monoxide (CO), carbon dioxide (CO₂), nitrogen oxides (NOₓ), and unburned hydrocarbons (HC) during real driving emissions (RDE) cycles. The analysis focused on three specific traffic scenarios: driving through an intersection, creeping in a traffic queue before an intersection, and navigating a roundabout. Data were converted into grams per second and correlated with specific road segments to evaluate the impact of driving behaviors necessitated by infrastructure design. The results demonstrate that road infrastructure significantly impacts emission profiles. In the intersection scenario, acceleration triggered elevated CO₂ emissions, though a downhill slope mitigated CO production. In the traffic queue scenario, frequent stopping and creeping led to sudden, significant increases in CO₂ emissions due to the engine operating outside its optimal range, highlighting how inefficient traffic management directly degrades air quality. The roundabout scenario revealed that the structural requirement to decelerate and restart caused pronounced spikes in CO emissions, particularly following rapid acceleration after exiting the junction. These findings confirm that disrupted traffic flow, characterized by abrupt accelerations and frequent stops, substantially increases fuel usage and emissions compared to smooth driving conditions. The study concludes that road infrastructure should be viewed as an active element in the emissions system rather than a passive asset. The authors argue that small inefficiencies in road design, when multiplied across thousands of daily vehicles, create a substantial cumulative environmental impact. Consequently, they propose that public authorities integrate road infrastructure characteristics into sustainable transport policies. Recommendations include adopting an "average kilometer" design benchmark that minimizes steep gradients, avoids unnecessary stops, and optimizes traffic flow through intelligent control systems. This holistic approach, combining vehicle innovation with strategic infrastructure transformation, is presented as essential for meeting climate goals and reducing the environmental burden of road transport.

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• roadway lighting effects