Simulation-Based Impact Assessment of Electric and Hydrogen Vehicles in Urban Parcel Delivery Operations

Abstract

Alternative energy sources are increasingly being considered to power vehicles used in freight transport. This is in a bid to reduce emissions generated by the transportation sector. Moreover, opportunities for implementation exist in urban logistics, particularly in the last-mile stage of the delivery chain. In this paper, the potentials for using ecological-friendly vehicles for parcel delivery is evaluated. To do this, we apply the microscopic agent-based simulation framework, MATSim, and the integrated logistics behaviour model, Jsprit to the parcel market scene in Berlin, Germany. This study provides quantitative insight into the transport-related, economic and environmental implications of deploying electric and hydrogen vehicles to replace traditional diesel-powered vehicles, used in urban parcel delivery operations. We compare the simulation results generated for key transport-related, economic and ecological key indicators in three scenarios: (i) status quo diesel-driven vehicles, (ii) 100% adoption of electric vehicles and (iii) 100% adoption of hydrogen vehicles. We show that electric and hydrogen vehicles can reduce emissions generated in parcel delivery operations but are unable to reduce the transport-related impacts and transport costs.