Optimization Based Design of Heterogeneous Truck Fleet and Electric Propulsion

Many researches have been focused on vehicle routing problem during past decades where subject vehicles are previously fully designed and ready to start operation. Further, extensive studies have been done on powertrain design irrespective of the routes where the vehicle is going to be employed. In the present paper, we try to define a new branch of problems where the vehicle design, in particular its propulsion system and loading capacity, is treated simultaneously with the routing problem. The focus is on optimization based design of heterogeneous electric truck fleet to perform a prescribed task with a lowest cost on an available set of routes. The approach is illustrated in a simple case study problem. It is shown that long heavy combination vehicles are energy-efficient but not cost-optimal on short routes.