Abstract
Current logistics and transportation (L&T) systems include heterogeneous fleets consisting of common internal combustion engine vehicles as well as other types of vehicles using “green” technologies, e.g., plug-in hybrid electric vehicles and electric vehicles (EVs). However, the incorporation of EVs in L&T activities also raise some additional challenges from the strategic, planning, and operational perspectives. For instance, smart cities are required to provide recharge stations for electric-based vehicles, meaning that investment decisions need to be made about the number, location, and capacity of these stations. Similarly, the limited driving-range capabilities of EVs, which are restricted by the amount of electricity stored in their batteries, impose non-trivial additional constraints when designing efficient distribution routes. Accordingly, this paper identifies and reviews several open research challenges related to the introduction of EVs in L&T activities, including: (a) environmental-related issues; and (b) strategic, planning and operational issues associated with “standard” EVs and with hydrogen-based EVs. The paper also analyzes how the introduction of EVs in L&T systems generates new variants of the well-known Vehicle Routing Problem, one of the most studied optimization problems in the L&T field, and proposes the use of metaheuristics and simheuristics as the most efficient way to deal with these complex optimization problems.
Highlights
Logistics and transportation (L&T) activities represent a key sector in worldwide economies, and are a significant contributor to social and economic progress in modern societies
This paper has reviewed some of the existing literature related to the introduction of electric vehicles in road transportation, paying special attention to environmental issues; the emerging strategic and operational challenges; the use of hydrogen electric vehicles as an alternative to other types of electric vehicles; and the new variants of the popular vehicle routing problem that arise as a consequence of introducing electric vehicles in the distribution fleets
It becomes evident that the use of sustainable energy sources in road logistics and transportation is more necessary than ever, and constitutes a critical factor for the evolution of an economically and environmentally stable world
Summary
Logistics and transportation (L&T) activities represent a key sector in worldwide economies, and are a significant contributor to social and economic progress in modern societies. This paper identifies and reviews, from an OR/CS perspective, several open research challenges related to the introduction of EVs in L&T activities, including the following dimensions:. EVs and with hydrogen-based EVs; and (c) emerging operational issues related to the use of EVs in VRPs. Table 1 summarizes the different research challenges that have been identified in our study and that will be conveniently described and reviewed in different sections of this manuscript. Developing new optimization approaches for (4) Exploring potential uses of renewably-generated electricity to power the Fleet Sizehydrogen and Mixvehicles. In particular comparing these strategies in Vehicle Routing Problems (3) Considering the new issues derived from the driving-range limitations of EVs. Operational with EVs. In particular, developing new optimization approaches for the Vehicle Routing driving‐range limitations of EVs.
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