"Multi objective optimization for green logistics with use of electric vs. carbonized vehicles"

"Multi objective optimization for green logistics with use of electric vs. carbonized vehicles: A Case for several european food distribution companies"

 

Bartosz Sawik

 

AGH University of Science and Technology, School of Management, Department of Applied Computer Science, Kraków, Poland

 

 

Abstract

 

This research deals with multi objective optimization models for green vehicle routing problems by a mixed integer programming. Exact methods were implemented for computations. Real data instances from four food distribution companies located in Germany, Great Britain, Poland and Spain were used for computational experiments. Several goals related with green logistics were taken into consideration and validation. The most significant objectives for finding optimal routes are the minimization of the travelled distance by the running vehicles, the minimization of altitude differences within the route, and the minimization of the negative environmental impacts caused by the fuel consumption, carbon emission and noise. For comparison of environmental impact of road transport the electric vs. carbonized vehicles were considered.  Stochastic demands is also considered. Optimization models consist of bi-criteria formulations. Constraints ensure that all vehicles begin and end their routes at the depot. The subtours solutions are going to be avoided with the use of Miller-Tucker-Zemlin subtour elimination constraints. Weighted-Sum approach and ε-Constraint method are implemented to solve multi-criteria green logistics optimization problems. The results of some computational experiments modeled after a real data from the German, British, Polish and Spanish food distribution companies are reported. CPLEX and GUROBI solvers were used for computational experiments. Analyses of obtained results could help decision makers to lead the initiative in area of green logistics: by using electric trucks, saving fuel, minimizing pollution, minimizing costs and optimally assigning truck fleet and drivers according to demand and obtaining reduction of the amount of empty running in delivery activities.

 

Keywords

 

Multi objective optimization, Green Vehicle Routing, Green logistics, Road freight transport, CO2 emissions, Electric vehicle, Carbonized vehicle, Mixed Integer Programming, Exact approach, Stochastic demand.

 

Funding and Acknowledgments

 

This research was partly funded by AGH subsidy for maintenance and development of the research potential.

 

References

 

Sawik B. (2018). Weighted-Sum Approach for Bi-Objective Optimization of Fleet Size with Environmental Aspects. chapter in: Lawrence K.D., Kleinman G. (Eds.) Applications of Management Science (Vol. 19) Applications of Management Science. Bingley, UK: Emerald Group Publishing Limited, Bingley, UK, pp. 101-116

 

Sawik B., Faulin J., Pérez-Bernabeu E. (2017). Multi-Criteria Optimization for Fleet Size with Environmental Aspects, Transportation Research Procedia, Vol. 27: 61-68 

 

Sawik B., Faulin J., Pérez-Bernabeu E. (2017). A Multicriteria Analysis for the Green VRP: A Case Discussion for the Distribution Problem of a Spanish Retailer, Transportation Research Procedia, Vol. 22: 305-313

 

Sawik B., Faulin J., Pérez-Bernabeu E. (2017). Multi-Objective Traveling Salesman and Transportation Problem with Environmental Aspects. chapter in: Lawrence K.D., Kleinman G. (Eds.) Applications of Management Science (Vol. 18) Applications of Management Science. Bingley, UK: Emerald Group Publishing Limited, Bingley, UK, pp. 21-56

 

Sawik B., Faulin J., Pérez-Bernabeu E. (2017). Selected Multi-Criteria Green Vehicle Routing Problems, chapter in: Lawrence K.D., Kleinman G. (Eds.) Applications of Management Science (Vol. 18) Applications of Management Science. Bingley, UK: Emerald Group Publishing Limited, Bingley, UK, pp. 57-84