Mr Allan Peñafiel Mera

(he/him)

BEng, MSc

My doctoral project examines how road user charges in the United Kingdom can be restructured in anticipation of a mobility future shaped by Autonomous, Connected, Electric and Shared (ACES) Vehicles. As the transition to ACES technologies is expected to significantly reduce revenues from traditional motoring taxes, current charging regimes will require redesign, validation, and implementation. The thesis contributes to this policy challenge by analysing the issue from three complementary perspectives.

• Scenario based policy recommendations

Using the Common Analytical Scenarios, the research estimates the scale of revenue losses resulting from the transition to Electric Vehicles, particularly reductions in Fuel Duty and fuel related VAT. To address these fiscal gaps, the thesis models a Distance Based Charge as a potential replacement mechanism.

• Methodological review of the speed flow relation

The thesis examines how data generated by Connected Vehicles, one of the components of ACES mobility, may support new approaches to constructing monotonic speed flow curves, a fundamental component in the design of road charges. The review highlights how richer and more granular traffic data can improve the robustness of these functions.

• Revision of the marginalist theoretical framework informing road pricing

The research traces the evolution of marginalist externality theory from Dupuit to the present. It argues that some foundational concepts, particularly the treatment of congestion, differ between original and modern interpretations. By returning to earlier analyses, the thesis proposes an expansion of marginalist theory that better reflects the diversity of contemporary road usage patterns, including those enabled by ACES mobility, and one that enhances economic efficiency and overall sustainability.