Connected and automated vehicles (CAVs) are rightly capturing the attention and imagination of technologists, futurists, urbanists, and automakers, among others. The rapid development of these vehicles is driven largely by their potential safety, mobility, and convenience benefits. But CAV adoption will affect transportation energy use as well, and the size—and even the direction—of the impact will be influenced by policy choices.

In May, the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE) will hold a workshop bringing together stakeholders to discuss the role of CAVs in improving the energy efficiency and sustainability of the transportation system.  The workshop aims to identify the drivers of CAV energy impacts and the policy measures that could maximize energy savings while maintaining the other benefits of these technologies.