Assessing e-vehicle utilization in supply chains

Abstract

Greener electrified transportation is increasing in popularity while many questions remain in the usage abilities of the electric vehicles. Currently, one of the greatest challenges in the usage of electric power is in battery charging. In comparison to fossil-fuel-based engines that can be refueled in minutes, the charging of an electric battery can consume considerably more time. Different solutions to energize the electric vehicles have been proposed, however the holistic evaluation of the practical feasibility remains relatively unexplored in different solutions. This paper discusses recent development and key aspects and their impact on heavy transportation logistics. The results illustrate a comparative analysis about different energizing solutions' impact on logistics processes in two supply chain cases. The contribution of the paper allows a holistic view of different charging solutions and their suitability for road logistics supply chains, thus enabling better management of the transformation towards the possibility of using electrified logistics.