Utility evaluation of battery electric vehicles in urban distribution

Utilizing battery electric vehicles in daily distribution operations of logistics service providers and freight forwarders goes along with major uncertainties for companies. There is no mechanism how to evaluate the technical and economical use of battery electric vehicles in companies use cases and processes in status quo in contrast to vehicles with an internal engine. This paper adopts an evaluation mechanism from literature, which is bases on a value benefit analysis with compensation factors, and applies this evaluation model to three real life use cases of a renowned logistics service provider with worldwide activities and strong business in road-bound transportation of palletized goods for B2B and B2C customers. The results of the evaluation showed that a substitution of vehicles with internal combustion engines with battery electric vehicles is not an applicable approach. The evaluation shows, that using battery electric vehicles in distribution generates only 41% (3:5 t vehicles) respectively 34% (7:5 t trucks) of the benefit value as using conventional vehicles with internal combustion engine. The results of the evaluation confirm, that not parameters of range and the operating costs, but parameters of payload and the vehicle asset costs are determining the utility evaluation in distribution use cases. In fact planning of distribution operations need to be adapted to the specific performance parameters of battery electric vehicles. The presented evaluation model in this paper can identify the fields of action, in which a company needs to adapt existing distribution activities

Technical and economic evaluation of the utilization of battery electric vehicles in the distribution of consumer goods

Die Anforderungen an die Konsumgüterdistribution verändern sich mit zunehmender Geschwindigkeit. Anhaltende Globalisierung, kürzere Produktlebenszyklen und Urbanisierung sowie neue Technologien sind Treiber dieser Veränderungen. Hinzu kommen die wachsende Bedeutung des Onlinehandels, steigender Kundenanforderungen hinsichtlich Geschwindigkeit, Flexibilität und Qualität der Belieferung, sowie ein steigendes Nachhaltigkeitsbewusstsein in der Bevölkerung. Es entsteht ein dynamisches und komplexes Marktumfeld für die in der Distribution von Konsumgütern im Wettbewerb stehenden Unternehmen. Die Dissertation befasst sich mit der Entwicklung eines Bewertungsmodells, um die Folgen des Einsatzes batterieelektrischer Nutzfahrzeuge in der Distribution von Konsumgütern technisch-wirtschaftlich bewerten zu können. Das entwickelte Bewertungsmodell wird im Rahmen dieser Dissertation exemplarisch an sechs abstrahierten Anwendungsfällen in drei Szenarien (2015, 2030 I und 2030 II) angewendet. Die Anwendungsfälle stammen den Bereichen der Lebensmittel-, Fashion- und KEP-Distribution und wurden anhand von neun Unternehmen erhoben. Die Ergebnisse der Arbeit zeigen, dass es im Besonderen die Nutzlast und die Anschaffungskosten von batterieelektrischen Nutzfahrzeugen sowie die Gewichtung der Nachhaltigkeitskennzahlen im Zielsystem des Anwenders von Elektromobilität in der Distribution sind, welche den technisch-wirtschaftlich vorteilhaften Einsatz der Elektromobilität (im Vergleich zu konventionell dieselbetriebenen Nutzfahrzeugen) determinieren. Diese Dissertation richtet sich an Wissenschaftler sowie Fach- und Führungskräfte von in der Distribution tätigen Unternehmen, welche sich mit den Einsatzmöglichkeiten von batterieelektrischen Nutzfahrzeugen im Rahmen von Distributionsaktivitäten befassen und ihre technisch-wirtschaftlichen Implikationen abschätzen möchten.There are rapidly changing demands on the distribution of consumer goods in international trade. These changes are driven by increasing globalization of trade, decreasing product life cycles, urbanization and new technologies. Other trends affecting the distribution chain include the increasing role of e-commerce; an increasing consumer demand for shorter delivery times, flexibility and high quality of goods and services; and the growing awareness of environmental issues among customers. These changes have created a dynamic and complex market environment for companies in the distribution of consumer goods. This PhD thesis describes the development and evaluation of a model to assess the impact of electric vehicle usage on the distribution chain, addressing both technical and economical aspects. The model is then applied to six general cases in three scenarios (years 2015, 2030 I and 2030 II). These case examples are derived from a range of industries, including food, fashion and CEP distribution, and in particular from nine specific companies that were surveyed. Conventional diesel powered vehicles were used as the reference standard for determining the benefits of electric vehicle use. We found that the following factors determine the technical and economic benefits of electric vehicles: payload, acquisition cost for the vehicle, and the importance of environmental sustainability in the value system of the vehicle operating company. This thesis is targeted at economists and managers of companies with large distribution networks who wish to assess the technical and economic implications of using electric vehicles in their distribution networks

Challenges and perspectives for the use of electric vehicles for last mile logistics of grocery e-commerce – Findings from case studies in Germany

More and more cities struggle to provide acceptable air quality and noise levels for their inhabitants. At the same time, urbanization is continuing, as is the need for supply with groceries in cities. Another ongoing trend is the growth of online shopping of groceries. Increase of online shopping in other areas, e.g. clothing, has resulted in augmented transport demand due to deliveries and returns. Therefore, an approach is needed to uncouple grocery supply related transport demand from emissions augmentation. This is only possible though, if transportation efficiency is further improved and if lower emission technologies (noise and fumes) are applied, e.g. electric vehicles. With limited data available on urban commercial transport as well as on e-mobility, it is difficult for both logistics providers and politics to prepare for these developments and understand their implications. Focusing on the German market and using the test case of a renowned logistics service provider who trialed e-vehicles for commercial transport, this paper discusses potential shifts in grocery shopping habits, maps out perspectives, prerequisites and challenges for a shift to electric vehicles for their distribution and derives recommendations for industry and politics based on the findings

Potential User Groups for Electronic Vehicles in Urban Distribution

Urbanization is one of the actual megatrends to be observed globally. With their growing population, cities are confronted with augmenting transport for goods supply and, as a consequence, with augmenting transport related emissions. Electric vehicles could contribute to reducing local emissions. Based on an online survey, combined with expert interviews, this research presents findings from an empirical research made in Berlin which analyses, which organizations are best suited for operating electric vehicles in their fleets