The impact of using zero-emission trucks and waterborne AGVs for freight transport

In order to limit the impacts of climate change, there is a pressing need to accelerate the development and implementation of sustainable transport technologies and to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. This research provides an in-depth investigation into the impact of zero-emission vehicles on freight transport flows in terms of the reduction of GHG emissions.An initial step towards the reduction of GHG emissions has been the introduction of the carbon footprint as a form of measurement, which refers to the total amount of CO2 and other GHGs emitted over the entire lifecycle of a product or service. This CO2 footprint is typically measured in terms of tons of CO2. The emissions produced by freight transport are expected to grow more significantly than those of passenger transport. The methods adopted to combat GHG emissions and their results can vary, but the rise of GHG accounting has prompted a greater number of companies to set goals in terms of reducing their emissions.The minimization of costs and improved performance in terms of time have traditionally been the main priorities in most logistics systems. Efficiency-oriented logistics systems have led to a high degree of dependence on the truck-only system. Therefore, this research focuses on an electric truck that has the same functionalities of a conventional truck, but has an electric drive train, which results in decreased range and more downtime. The approach adopted in this study is to first develop a broad overview of transportation methods by means of reading articles, reports, and web pages; in addition, interviews are conducted with stakeholders. Thereafter, the second section focuses on the development of operational and financial models. The costs incurred and CO2 emissions produced per container when using a conventional vehicle, an electric truck, and an electric waterborne automated guided vehicle (AGV) system are analyzed.In the academic study of transportation, there is a large body of studies that identify shippers’ preferences with respect to various aspects of transportation, such as cost, quality, and speed. The overall purpose of of the model developed in this research is to investigate the feasibility of achieving zero-emission freight transport during the pre-haulage stage. This model is constructed in order to investigate which transport modality minimizes CO2 emissions and cost per ton/km from the perspective of pre-haulage contractor companies. The costs include fuel, infrastructure, and investment. In addition, the model measures the decrease in CO2 emissions associated with a shift from a fuel engine to an electric drive train.The results of the different scenarios with regard to the performance of each transport method are investigated by means of simulations performed using the Simio software. The scenarios are designed with the intention of determining the relationships between the various parameters and variables used in this system, such as throughput, battery range, charging time, vehicle capacity (in terms of the number of containers carried), and transport network. The scenario simulations indicate that there are clear reversal points when it comes to charging time and throughput. The performance in those scenarios that feature high throughput and short distance between the source and sink mainly depends on the charging time of the vehicles, rather than their range. In this case, the vehicles could be charged during the unloading process. Nowadays, making various assumptions, operating a conventional diesel truck costs approximately €350,000 less per year than an electric vehicle when it comes to a short-lane scenario with a yearly throughput of 45,000 containers.. Turning to the waterborne AGV, this innovative transport modality is heavily dependent on geographical constraints; in other words, it depends on whether it is possible to handle goods on waterways. From an academic perspective, this research contributes to the notions that such an innovative transport modality requires intensive development in terms of its performance and detailed elaboration on the design improvements of the conceptual vehicle. Subsequently, it can be concluded that the electric truck is closer to full implementation in a real-world operating environment.This report features both a business case and an operational logistics simulation. This research indicates that an understanding of the connections between the business models discussed in this thesis and the operational logistics simulation are useful when attempting to design a zero-emission freight transportation system. The define, measure, analyze, design, and verify (DMADV) framework is adopted in this study. The findings of this research are valuable for shippers and other logistics service operators who realize that significant steps need to be taken toward zero-emission freight transport.Marine Technology | Transport Engineering and Logistic