Selecting low carbon technologies for heavy goods vehicles: a case study in the UK fast food supply chain

Abstract

The fast food supply chain is facing increased operating costs due to rising food and energy prices. Based on a case study of a major fast food logistics operator, this paper uses a metaheuristic evolutionary algorithm to find the optimal combination of low carbon vehicle, powertrain and transport refrigeration technologies that minimise net present costs for a heterogeneous fleet of heavy goods vehicles operating in the chilled and frozen food sector. Based on the financial and operational constraints of the live case study, the model suggests that rigid trucks should include spray reduction mud-flaps, new generation single-wide tyres, light weighting materials and flywheels. Depending on the duty cycle and fuel used, other additional technologies can further enhance the net present savings. Conventional diesel vehicles can reduce their net present costs by 10.25% and 11.43% in urban and regional duty cycles.The model suggested that alternative refrigeration technologies had less potential for reducing costs unless working more than 10 hours per day; however they could make a considerable contribution to lower carbon emissions. As fast food logistic operators have access to used cooking oil, they can buy cheaper biodiesel while reducing GHG emissions by up to 84%. When comparing a conventional powered rigid truck using DERV with one using B65, cost savings were estimated to be £32,000 for urban duty cycles and over £42,000 for regional duty cycles per truck over their 5 year lifespans, reducing their CO2 by 231 and 273 tonnes respectively