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Conventional, Hybrid, or Electric Vehicles: Which Technology for an Urban Distribution Centre?
Philippe Lebeau1, Cedric De Cauwer1, Joeri Van Mierlo1
1MOBI Research Group, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Pleinlaan 2, 1050 Brussels, Belgium.
Thescientificworldjournal
|August 4, 2015
Summary
Integrating electric vehicles (EVs) into urban logistics can cut last-mile costs. A mixed-fleet approach, combining electric vehicles with traditional ones, offers a viable strategy for reducing emissions and operational expenses in city logistics.
Area of Science:
- Urban logistics
- Sustainable transportation
- Environmental science
Background:
- Urban freight transport significantly contributes to city pollution, accounting for 25% of CO2 and 50% of particulate matter.
- The European Commission aims for CO2-free city logistics by 2030, highlighting the need for sustainable solutions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore the integration of electric vehicles (EVs) into urban logistics operations.
- To address barriers such as high costs and limited range associated with EV adoption.
Main Methods:
- Development of a fleet size and mix vehicle routing problem with time windows specifically for EVs.
- Integration of an energy consumption model to account for the variable range of electric vehicles.
- Analysis of various vehicle classes (quadricycles, vans, trucks) and technologies (petrol, hybrid, diesel, electric).
Main Results:
- A mixed-fleet strategy, incorporating different vehicle technologies, can reduce last-mile delivery costs.
- The study provides insights into optimizing fleet composition for urban logistics sustainability.
Conclusions:
- Electric vehicles are a key component for achieving CO2-free city logistics.
- A diversified fleet approach is crucial for balancing cost-efficiency and environmental goals in urban freight transport.
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