Energy　consumption　is　an　important　part　of　highway　tunnel　operation.　In　this　paper,　we　propose　a　method　to　evaluate　the　potential　of　energy-saving　based　on　the　data　collected　by　vehicle　detector　and　electricity　meter　deployed　in　the　tunnel.　Two　energy　saving　strategies　are　also　proposed　based　on　fuzzy　control:　strategy　1　based　on　traffic　flow　and　speed,　and　strategy　2　based　on　traffic　flow　and　the　rate　of　traffic　change.　Tunnel　electricity　simulation　using　strategy　1　and　strategy　2　to　evaluate　the　energy-saving　potential　for　6　tunnels.　The　experimental　results　show　that　energy-saving　potential　has　significant　difference　among　different　tunnels,　and　it　proves　that　it　is　important　to　evaluate　the　energy-saving　potential　before　the　energy-saving　system　is　deployed.　©　2022,　The　Author(s),　under　exclusive　license　to　Springer　Nature　Singapore　Pte　Ltd.