Multi-Compartment Vehicle Routing Problem Considering Traffic Congestion under the Mixed Carbon Policy

Abstract

The use of multi-compartment vehicles (MCVs) in urban logistics distribution is increasing. However, urban traffic congestion causes high carbon emissions in the logistics distribution, resulting in unsustainable development in urban transportation. In addition, the application of the mixed carbon policy has gradually become the first choice for energy conservation and emission reduction in some countries and regions. The transportation industry is a major carbon-emitting industry, which needs to be constrained by carbon emission reduction policies. In this context, the research on the multi-compartment vehicle routing problem (MCVRP) considering traffic congestion under the mixed carbon policy is carried out. Firstly, a mathematical model of MCVRP considering traffic congestion under the mixed carbon policy is constructed. Secondly, a two-stage variable neighborhood threshold acceptance algorithm (VNS-TA) is proposed to solve the above mathematical model. Thirdly, 14 adapted standard examples of the MCVRP are used to verify the effectiveness and optimization ability of the two-stage VNS-TA algorithm. A simulation example of the MCVRP considering traffic congestion under the mixed carbon policy is used to conduct sensitivity analyses for different scenarios. Finally, the following conclusions are drawn: (1) the two-stage VNS-TA algorithm is effective and has strong optimization ability in solving the basic MCVRP, and (2) the two-stage VNS-TA algorithm can solve and optimize the MCVRP considering traffic congestion under the mixed carbon policy, which has the effects of cost saving and energy conservation and emission reduction.