Model and algorithm for bi-fuel vehicle routing problem to reduce GHG emissions

Area of Science:

• Environmental Science
• Transportation Engineering
• Operations Research

Background:

• Petroleum-based fuels contribute to harmful greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.
• The transition to alternative fuel vehicles (AFVs) faces challenges, including limited access to alternative fueling stations (AFS).

Purpose of the Study:

• To propose bi-fuel vehicles as an operational strategy to mitigate challenges in AFV adoption.
• To develop a mathematical model for the vehicle routing problem (VRP) incorporating bi-fuel vehicles.
• To demonstrate the potential of bi-fuel vehicles in reducing GHG emissions.

Main Methods:

• Formulation of a vehicle routing problem (VRP) model for bi-fuel vehicles.
• Utilization of a simulated annealing algorithm to solve large-scale VRP instances.
• Evaluation of the algorithm's performance on random problem instances.

Main Results:

• Bi-fuel vehicles can significantly reduce GHG emissions in the transportation sector.
• The proposed VRP model effectively addresses the routing challenges for AFVs.
• The simulated annealing algorithm provides a viable solution for large instances of the bi-fuel VRP.

Conclusions:

• Bi-fuel vehicles are a practical approach to facilitate the adoption of alternative fuels.
• Optimizing routes with bi-fuel vehicles can lead to substantial environmental benefits.
• The developed methodology and algorithm are effective for real-world implementation.