Dynamic charging-while-driving systems for freight delivery services with electric vehicles: Traffic and energy modelling

Abstract

This paper presents a research on traffic modelling developed for assessing traffic and energy performance of electric systems installed along roads for dynamic charging-while-driving (CWD) of fully electric vehicles (FEVs).The logic adopted by the developed traffic model is derived from a particular simulation scenario of electric charging: a freight distribution service operated using medium-sized vans. In this case, the CWD service is used to recover the state of charge of the FEV batteries to shortly start with further activities after arrival at the depot.The CWD system is assumed to be implemented in a multilane ring road with several intermediate on-ramp entrances, where the slowest lane is reserved for the dynamic charging of authorized electric vehicles. A specific traffic model is developed and implemented based on a mesoscopic approach, where energy requirements and charging opportunities affect driving and traffic behaviours. Overtaking manoeuvres as well as new entries in the CWD lane of vehicles that need to charge are modelled according to a cooperative driving system, which manages adequate time gaps between consecutive vehicles. Finally, a speed control strategy is simulated at a defined node to create an empty time-space slot in the CWD lane, by delaying the arriving vehicles. This simulated control, implemented to allow maintenance operations for CWD that may require clearing a charging zone for a short time slot, could also be applied to facilitate on-ramp merging manoeuvres.

A critical review on wireless charging for electric vehicles

“…This characteristic directly transfers to the electricity network, if no intermediate power storage is used. Currently there is a high demand for information on the grid impact of these systems, driving research in recent years [268], [269]. The impact of DWPT and fast stationary chargers on the distribution network in a Greek city has been investigated [270].…”

Electric vehicle charging strategies for Urban freight transport: concept and typology

“…The idling and creep modes of conventional vehicles are discussed by Gaines et al (2006) . Charging strategies are rarely named after the vehicle activity type, except for "dynamic charging" (Deflorio & Castello, 2017).…”

“…Since it needs to be installed on the road network, the implementation of dynamic charging relies on the decisions by government agencies, who need to be convinced of its public benefit. Thus, the benefit should be assessed using large-scale traffic models that integrate the freight, public transport and private passenger vehicles and include a charging or energy-use module (Deflorio & Castello, 2017).…”

The Adoption of Green Vehicles in Last Mile Logistics: A Systematic Review

“…Many studies propose models and applications for the optimal location of charging stations for electric freight vehicles [24][25][26]. A recent article by Cortés-Murcia et al [27] propose a novel variant of the electric vehicle routing problem (EVRP) where the customer visits are allowed by an alternative means of transport while the EV is at a recharging station.…”