Researchers Zhexi Fu and Joseph Y. J. Chow from the City University of New York have explored a novel approach to electric vehicle charging that could have significant implications for the energy and transportation sectors. Their work, published in the journal Transportation Research Part C: Emerging Technologies, focuses on a technology called platoon-based vehicle-to-vehicle charging (PV2VC) for modular vehicles (MVs).
The study formulates a mathematical model, specifically a mixed integer linear program (MILP), to optimize the PV2VC process. This model is then solved using a genetic algorithm (GA), a type of computational method inspired by natural selection. The researchers tested their approach on a modified Sioux Falls network, a standard benchmark in transportation research, using five different scenarios.
The results of their experiments are promising. Compared to the optimal benchmark scenario, the PV2VC technology demonstrated significant improvements. It saved up to 11.07% in energy consumption, 11.65% in travel time, and 11.26% in total cost. These findings suggest that PV2VC could be particularly beneficial for long-distance vehicle routes where charging facilities are sparse, and the initial state of charge is low. Moreover, the technology could be more advantageous when travel time is perceived to be more important than energy consumption costs.
For the energy sector, this research highlights the potential of vehicle-to-vehicle charging to optimize energy use and reduce costs. It could also help alleviate the strain on charging infrastructure, particularly in areas where charging stations are scarce. For the transportation industry, the technology could lead to more efficient logistics and reduced travel times. However, further research and real-world testing will be necessary to fully understand the practical applications and limitations of this technology.
The study, titled “On the modular platoon-based vehicle-to-vehicle electric charging problem,” was published in the journal Transportation Research Part C: Emerging Technologies. It provides a valuable contribution to the ongoing exploration of innovative charging solutions for electric vehicles.
This article is based on research available at arXiv.