A Probabilistic Solution Discovery Algorithm for detour-to-recharge behavior in the green vehicle routing problem under pollution control policies

Due to a combination of high taxes on fuel, tightening environmental laws, and the possibility of further restrictions on greenhouse gas emissions, the development of cleaner alternative fuels for vehicles has become a high priority for many governments worldwide. The green vehicle routing problem can play a very important role as a central part of transportation in reducing pollution with alternative fuel-powered vehicle fleets. However, due to some main obstacles, distributors refuse to change their traditional vehicles to these advanced fuel vehicles. To prevent this and increase the capability to deal with the pollution of pollutant trucks through roads, a regulatory agency obliges distributors to improve their traditional trucks to advanced fuel vehicles and select routes such that pollution decreases, though imposing more fuel and distribution costs. This conflict is modeled as a bi-level routing problem, and two rational and effective meta-heuristic algorithms are proposed to solve it.

Keywords:

Pollution control , Recharging , Green Vehicle Routing Problem , Probabilistic Solution Discovery Algorithm