An integrated optimization-simulation framework for vehicle and personnel relocations of electric carsharing systems with reservations

Boyaci, Burak and Zografos, Konstantinos G and Geroliminis, Nikolas (2017) An integrated optimization-simulation framework for vehicle and personnel relocations of electric carsharing systems with reservations. Transportation Research Part B: Methodological, 95. pp. 214-237. ISSN 0191-2615

[thumbnail of boyaci2017214postprint]
Preview
PDF (boyaci2017214postprint)
boyaci2017214postprint.pdf - Accepted Version
Available under License Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs.

Download (2MB)
[thumbnail of boyaci2017214 - corrected postprint]
Preview
PDF (boyaci2017214 - corrected postprint)
boyaci2017214_corrected_postprint.pdf - Accepted Version
Available under License Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs.

Download (4MB)

Abstract

One-way electric vehicle carsharing systems are receiving increasing attention due to their mobility, environmental, and societal benefits. One of the major issues faced by the operators of these systems is the optimization of the relocation operations of personnel and vehicles. These relocation operations are essential in order to ensure that vehicles are available for use at the right place at the right time. Vehicle availability is a key indicator expressing the level of service offered to customers. However, the relocation operations, that ensure this availability, constitute a major cost component for the provision of these services. Therefore, clearly there is a trade-off between the cost of vehicle and personnel relocation and the level of service offered. In this paper we are developing, solving, and applying, in a real world context, an integrated multi-objective mixed integer linear programming (MMILP) optimization and discrete event simulation framework to optimize operational decisions for vehicle and personnel relocation in a carsharing system with reservations. We are using a clustering procedure to cope with the dimensionality of the operational problem without compromising on the quality of the obtained results. The optimization framework involves three mathematical models: (i) station clustering, (ii) operations optimization and (iii) personnel flow. The output of the optimization is used by the simulation in order to test the feasibility of the optimization outcome in terms of vehicle recharging requirements. The optimization model is solved iteratively considering the new constraints restricting the vehicles that require further charging to stay in the station until the results of the simulation are feasible in terms of electric vehicles’ battery charging levels. The application of the proposed framework using data from a real world system operating in Nice, France sheds light to trade-offs existing between the level of service offered, resource utilization, and certainty of fulfilling a trip reservation.

Item Type:
Journal Article
Journal or Publication Title:
Transportation Research Part B: Methodological
Additional Information:
This is the author’s version of a work that was accepted for publication in Transportation Research Part B: Methodological. Changes resulting from the publishing process, such as peer review, editing, corrections, structural formatting, and other quality control mechanisms may not be reflected in this document. Changes may have been made to this work since it was submitted for publication. A definitive version was subsequently published in Transportation Research Part B: Methodological, 95, 2017 DOI: 10.1016/j.trb.2016.10.007
Uncontrolled Keywords:
/dk/atira/pure/subjectarea/aacsb/disciplinebasedresearch
Subjects:
?? ONE-WAY CARSHARINGVEHICLE RELOCATION OPTIMIZATIONINTEGER PROGRAMMINGNETWORK FLOWMANAGEMENT SCIENCE AND OPERATIONS RESEARCHTRANSPORTATIONDISCIPLINE-BASED RESEARCH ??
ID Code:
82838
Deposited By:
Deposited On:
16 Nov 2016 12:04
Refereed?:
Yes
Published?:
Published
Last Modified:
26 Sep 2023 00:11