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Chinese Journal of Management Science ›› 2026, Vol. 34 ›› Issue (3): 214-225.doi: 10.16381/j.cnki.issn1003-207x.2023.1103

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Research on Time Dependent Electric Vehicle Routing Model with Nonlinear Energy Consumption and an Improved Whale Optimization Algorithm

Xiancheng Zhou1,2, Songming Li3, Li Wang1(), Kaijun Zhou1,2, Yang Lv1   

  1. 1.School of Intelligent Engineering and Intelligent Manufacturing,Hunan University of Technology and Business,Changsha 410205,China
    2.Xiangjiang Laboratory,Hunan Province,Changsha 410205,China
    3.School of Advanced Interdisciplinary Studies,Hunan University of Technology and Business,Changsha 410205,China
  • Received:2023-06-29 Revised:2024-01-15 Online:2026-03-25 Published:2026-03-06
  • Contact: Li Wang E-mail:58247336@qq.com

Abstract:

In recent years, Electric Vehicles (EVs) have been widely spread and used in logistic distribution. Due to the fact that EV route planning is directed associated with time-varying properties of energy consumption and traffic conditions, the Time Dependent Electric Vehicle Routing Problem with Nonlinear Energy Consumption (TDEVRPNEC) deserves deeper study. The TDEVRPNEC discussed in this paper involves set constraints, including (1) distribution center locations, (2) a homogeneous EV fleet, (3) customers' number, locations, needs, time windows, and (4) time-varying speeds on several time sections. The optimal plan is expected to realize the goal of total cost minimization under the premise of satisfying customer' expectations, i.e., needs and time windows, by means of reasonable departure time choice, optimal charging strategy and vehicle routing optimization. Specifically, the total cost includes energy consumption cost, charging time cost, usage-based time cost and fixed dispatch cost. In the design, a specific energy consumption rate function is firstly applied to calculate total rate of energy consumption during trips. And then, a partial charging strategy is proposed with special consideration of the influence of time-varying speed on charging capacity. Based on the fact of time-varying traffic conditions on different road sections, a road segment-based vehicle travel time calculation method is proposed. Finally, a TDEVRPNEC optimization model is constructed. In order to solve the TDEVRPNEC model, an Improved Whale Optimization Algorithm (IWOA) is designed. The basic idea of the algorithm can be described as follows. (1) The crossover techniques in genetic algorithm is introduced to derive a refined position updating formula in the whale optimization algorithm, with application to the solution of discrete problems. (2) The greedy algorithm is used to construct initial solution for shortening the computing time of optimization. (3) The scheduling of vehicle departure times is proposed to avoid traffic congestion. (4) A very important place for the design of operators, i.e. reversal operator, energy exchange operator and charging station insertion operator, is provided to expand the solution space, avoid local optima and improve global search capability. Experimental simulation results show the following. From a perspective of model, the TDEVRPNEC model is verified to achieve multi-objective balancing among logistics cost, energy consumption, and travel time. From a perspective of strategy, the partial charging strategy is tested effective to shorten charging time, save logistics cost and reduce the energy consumption; the scheduling of vehicle departure times can contribute to traffic congestion avoidance and high logistics efficiency. From a perspective of algorithm, the proposed IWOA is confirmed to achieve fast convergence, better generalizability and optimality-seeking ability.

Key words: EVRP, nonlinear energy consumption, time dependent, IWOA

CLC Number: