A regional cost-benefit analysis of replacing motorized modes by a shared automated electric vehicle service

Shared automated electric vehicles (SAEVs) have the potential to transform regional transportation, particularly in low-density areas where accessibility and resource optimization are challenging. However, their integrated economic impact on operators, users, environment, and society have been little explored. This paper presents a cost-benefit analysis methodology, incorporating a flow-based integer programming model, to assess the viability of SAEV services in a regional interurban context. The case study is based on mobility data from the Aveiro and Coimbra regions (Portugal). We evaluate the replacement of all motorized intermunicipal trips with various SAEV configurations, including automated cars (with and without pooling), automated minibuses, and a mixed fleet (cars and minibuses). Results indicate that SAEV providers can achieve profitability with fares ranging from €0.08 to €0.36 per kilometer. Even at these rates, SAEV services generate economic benefits for users, particularly pooled car-based services, as private car expenses dominate current mobility costs. Additionally, all SAEV configurations contribute to cost reductions related to air pollution, noise, global warming potential, and road accidents, with pooled services offering the greatest savings. A series of SAEV transition scenarios using a fleet of pooled cars also demonstrated benefits for all stakeholders, albeit lower than those from fully replacing motorized trips. A second sensitivity analysis confirms that reducing vehicle acquisition costs is key to lowering fares and increasing user savings. This paper represents one of the first evaluations of large-scale SAEV services for intermunicipal trips with significant distances between urban centers, contributing insights into smart and sustainable transportation solutions for such contexts.