IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/eee/trapol/v150y2024icp106-120.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Towards the electrification of freight transport: A network design model for assessing the adoption of eHighways

Author

Listed:
  • Colovic, Aleksandra
  • Marinelli, Mario
  • Ottomanelli, Michele

Abstract

The development of new technological innovations for eco-friendly vehicles combined with the usage of renewable energy sources is essential for mitigating the environmental impact of freight transport. In this context, this paper investigates the opportunities for implementing the eHighway system, a novel recent technology designed to supply new hybrid trucks. This technology uses overhead catenary heavy-duty vehicles that are supplied with electric energy from overhead power lines through a pantograph that is positioned at the top of the truck. A novel bi-level multi-objective network electrification design (BM-NED) model is proposed to assess the environmental benefits and opportunities of adopting eHighways, considering the limited budgetary resources for road infrastructure electrification. Still, the implementation of eHighways requires collaboration between public and private stakeholder interests. The upper level considers multiple objectives aiming at minimizing the total travel cost, infrastructure, and environmental costs and maximizing the average traffic density of OC hybrid trucks on electrified arcs, whereas the lower level is the traffic assignment model. The Elitist multi-objective Genetic Algorithms are used as a solution approach for the multi-objective optimization and the Pareto front of the non-dominated solutions have been generated. Results of the model, tested on a part of a motorway network in the Veneto region in Italy, show that the implementation of the eHighway system can lead to an average emission reduction of about 66%, considering all Pareto-optimal solutions. Furthermore, a sensitivity analysis has been carried out by giving different weights to the objective functions that can be a basis for decision-makers regarding the adoption of this new technology.

Suggested Citation

  • Colovic, Aleksandra & Marinelli, Mario & Ottomanelli, Michele, 2024. "Towards the electrification of freight transport: A network design model for assessing the adoption of eHighways," Transport Policy, Elsevier, vol. 150(C), pages 106-120.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:trapol:v:150:y:2024:i:c:p:106-120
    DOI: 10.1016/j.tranpol.2024.03.012
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0967070X24000866
    Download Restriction: Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1016/j.tranpol.2024.03.012?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to search for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Wang, Guangmin & Gao, Ziyou & Xu, Meng, 2019. "Integrating link-based discrete credit charging scheme into discrete network design problem," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 272(1), pages 176-187.
    2. Jesko Schulte & Henrik Ny, 2018. "Electric Road Systems: Strategic Stepping Stone on the Way towards Sustainable Freight Transport?," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(4), pages 1-16, April.
    3. Talebian, Hoda & Herrera, Omar E. & Tran, Martino & Mérida, Walter, 2018. "Electrification of road freight transport: Policy implications in British Columbia," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 115(C), pages 109-118.
    4. Taljegard, M. & Göransson, L. & Odenberger, M. & Johnsson, F., 2019. "Impacts of electric vehicles on the electricity generation portfolio – A Scandinavian-German case study," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 235(C), pages 1637-1650.
    5. Ivan Mareev & Dirk Uwe Sauer, 2018. "Energy Consumption and Life Cycle Costs of Overhead Catenary Heavy-Duty Trucks for Long-Haul Transportation," Energies, MDPI, vol. 11(12), pages 1-18, December.
    6. Micari, Salvatore & Polimeni, Antonio & Napoli, Giuseppe & Andaloro, Laura & Antonucci, Vincenzo, 2017. "Electric vehicle charging infrastructure planning in a road network," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 80(C), pages 98-108.
    7. Jelica, D. & Taljegard, M. & Thorson, L. & Johnsson, F., 2018. "Hourly electricity demand from an electric road system – A Swedish case study," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 228(C), pages 141-148.
    8. Wang, Yue & Shi, Jianmai & Wang, Rui & Liu, Zhong & Wang, Ling, 2018. "Siting and sizing of fast charging stations in highway network with budget constraint," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 228(C), pages 1255-1271.
    9. Plötz, Patrick & Gnann, Till & Jochem, Patrick & Yilmaz, Hasan Ümitcan & Kaschub, Thomas, 2019. "Impact of electric trucks powered by overhead lines on the European electricity system and CO2 emissions," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 130(C), pages 32-40.
    10. Yan, Shiyu & de Bruin, Kelly & Dennehy, Emer & Curtis, John, 2021. "Climate policies for freight transport: Energy and emission projections through 2050," Transport Policy, Elsevier, vol. 107(C), pages 11-23.
    11. Zhuang, Weichao & Li (Eben), Shengbo & Zhang, Xiaowu & Kum, Dongsuk & Song, Ziyou & Yin, Guodong & Ju, Fei, 2020. "A survey of powertrain configuration studies on hybrid electric vehicles," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 262(C).
    12. Qiu, K. & Ribberink, H. & Entchev, E., 2022. "Economic feasibility of electrified highways for heavy-duty electric trucks," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 326(C).
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Bakker, J. & Lopez Alvarez, J.A. & Buijs, P., 2024. "A network design perspective on the adoption potential of electric road systems in early development stages," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 361(C).
    2. Flávia Mendes de Almeida Collaço & Ana Carolina Rodrigues Teixeira & Pedro Gerber Machado & Raquel Rocha Borges & Thiago Luis Felipe Brito & Dominique Mouette, 2022. "Road Freight Transport Literature and the Achievements of the Sustainable Development Goals—A Systematic Review," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(6), pages 1-18, March.
    3. Liimatainen, Heikki & van Vliet, Oscar & Aplyn, David, 2019. "The potential of electric trucks – An international commodity-level analysis," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 236(C), pages 804-814.
    4. Haider, Minza & Davis, Matthew & Kumar, Amit, 2024. "Development of a framework to assess the greenhouse gas mitigation potential from the adoption of low-carbon road vehicles in a hydrocarbon-rich region," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 358(C).
    5. Niklas Jakobsson & Elias Hartvigsson & Maria Taljegard & Filip Johnsson, 2023. "Substation Placement for Electric Road Systems," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(10), pages 1-19, May.
    6. Manríquez, Francisco & Sauma, Enzo & Aguado, José & de la Torre, Sebastián & Contreras, Javier, 2020. "The impact of electric vehicle charging schemes in power system expansion planning," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 262(C).
    7. Gönül, Ömer & Duman, A. Can & Güler, Önder, 2024. "A comprehensive framework for electric vehicle charging station siting along highways using weighted sum method," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 199(C).
    8. Christos Karolemeas & Stefanos Tsigdinos & Panagiotis G. Tzouras & Alexandros Nikitas & Efthimios Bakogiannis, 2021. "Determining Electric Vehicle Charging Station Location Suitability: A Qualitative Study of Greek Stakeholders Employing Thematic Analysis and Analytical Hierarchy Process," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(4), pages 1-21, February.
    9. Alberto Danese & Michele Garau & Andreas Sumper & Bendik Nybakk Torsæter, 2021. "Electrical Infrastructure Design Methodology of Dynamic and Static Charging for Heavy and Light Duty Electric Vehicles," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(12), pages 1-15, June.
    10. Maria Taljegard & Lisa Göransson & Mikael Odenberger & Filip Johnsson, 2021. "To Represent Electric Vehicles in Electricity Systems Modelling—Aggregated Vehicle Representation vs. Individual Driving Profiles," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(3), pages 1-25, January.
    11. Shafqat Jawad & Junyong Liu, 2020. "Electrical Vehicle Charging Services Planning and Operation with Interdependent Power Networks and Transportation Networks: A Review of the Current Scenario and Future Trends," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(13), pages 1-24, July.
    12. Youssef Amry & Elhoussin Elbouchikhi & Franck Le Gall & Mounir Ghogho & Soumia El Hani, 2022. "Electric Vehicle Traction Drives and Charging Station Power Electronics: Current Status and Challenges," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(16), pages 1-30, August.
    13. Wojciech Rabiega & Artur Gorzałczyński & Robert Jeszke & Paweł Mzyk & Krystian Szczepański, 2021. "How Long Will Combustion Vehicles Be Used? Polish Transport Sector on the Pathway to Climate Neutrality," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(23), pages 1-19, November.
    14. Chenxi Li & Xing Gao & Bao-Jie He & Jingyao Wu & Kening Wu, 2019. "Coupling Coordination Relationships between Urban-industrial Land Use Efficiency and Accessibility of Highway Networks: Evidence from Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei Urban Agglomeration, China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(5), pages 1-23, March.
    15. Bryam Paúl Lojano-Riera & Carlos Flores-Vázquez & Juan-Carlos Cobos-Torres & David Vallejo-Ramírez & Daniel Icaza, 2023. "Electromobility with Photovoltaic Generation in an Andean City," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(15), pages 1-16, July.
    16. Balu, Korra & Mukherjee, V., 2024. "Optimal deployment of electric vehicle charging stations, renewable distributed generation with battery energy storage and distribution static compensator in radial distribution network considering un," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 359(C).
    17. Rose, Philipp & Wietschel, Martin & Gnann, Till, 2020. "Wie könnte ein Tankstellenaufbau für Brennstoffzellen-Lkw in Deutschland aussehen?," Working Papers "Sustainability and Innovation" S09/2020, Fraunhofer Institute for Systems and Innovation Research (ISI).
    18. Knuepfer, K. & Rogalski, N. & Knuepfer, A. & Esteban, M. & Shibayama, T., 2022. "A reliable energy system for Japan with merit order dispatch, high variable renewable share and no nuclear power," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 328(C).
    19. Anselma, Pier Giuseppe, 2022. "Computationally efficient evaluation of fuel and electrical energy economy of plug-in hybrid electric vehicles with smooth driving constraints," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 307(C).
    20. Xiaoxuan Wei & Meng Ye & Liang Yuan & Wei Bi & Weisheng Lu, 2022. "Analyzing the Freight Characteristics and Carbon Emission of Construction Waste Hauling Trucks: Big Data Analytics of Hong Kong," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(4), pages 1-21, February.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:eee:trapol:v:150:y:2024:i:c:p:106-120. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Catherine Liu (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.elsevier.com/wps/find/journaldescription.cws_home/30473/description#description .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.