When electrified, automated heavy-duty trucks can have dramatic reductions in air pollutant emissions that harm human health. A lifecycle analysis study found that the health impact costs of an automated diesel heavy duty truck were twice that of an automated electric heavy-duty truck, and that the automated electric truck caused 18 percent fewer fatalities compared to the automated diesel truck [1].

A 2024 study modeled reductions in damages from air pollution from the introduction of automation and partial electrification in long haul trucking, finding that for long haul routes under 300 miles, electrification reduces air pollution and greenhouse gas damages by 13 percent, and for routes above 300 miles, electrification of only urban segments facilitated by hub-based automation of highway driving reduces damages by 35 percent [2].

To date, much of the research related to health and vehicle automation has focused on passenger vehicles. Additional research is needed to understand potential health impacts of heavy-duty vehicle automation beyond reductions in air pollution, as well as of different types of heavy-duty vehicles and adoption scenarios.