Constrained Route Optimization With Fleet Considerations for Electrified Heavy-Duty Freight Vehicles

Almost 75% of traffic-related emissions are caused by heavy-duty freight trucks and significantly impact neighborhoods, schools, and communities around shipping and distribution lines. With poor air quality and respiratory health, many children in at-risk and disadvantaged communities experience high rates of asthma, lower attendance in school, and lower concentration. This research creates to improve the impacts of heavy-duty electric freight by improving the route efficiency (in terms of energy, time, or route distance) of EV trucks. Our software and algorithms are tested in a simulation environment using data from several thousand fleet trucks operating in the Salt Lake City area. The software shows an anticipated energy reduction of ~ 6% to ~ 10% at the cost of ~ 3% increases in vehicle travel distance. Further, we anticipate positive health impacts in areas of dense trucking as we reduce the energy needs of electrification for fleet operators.