Electric airport ferry vehicle scheduling problem for sustainable operation

Abstract

This study discusses the challenges and solutions surrounding the scheduling of electric airport ferry vehicles (EAFVs) in the aviation industry. With the rise of electric vehicle technology and the push for sustainability, the adoption of EAFVs presents a significant opportunity for reducing emissions in airport ground transportation. However, scheduling EAFVs involves integrated considerations of operational scheduling and charging scheduling. To address these challenges, this study proposes a mixed-integer nonlinear programming (MINLP) model aimed at minimizing total costs associated with EAFV utilization while adhering to flight time window constraints and ensuring electric power availability. Furthermore, we transform the proposed MINLP model into a solvable mixed-integer linear programming model, facilitating its solution using off-the-shelf commercial solvers. To meet the requirements of the large international airport, we propose a stabilization approach for solving the large-scale instances. Finally, we further analyze the influence of crucial parameters, including the number of EAFVs deployed, the number of flights for servicing, and the charging power of charging facilities. Managerial policies are proposed for the airport managers based on the findings. This research addresses both theoretical and practical aspects, offering valuable policy recommendations for the effective EAFV management and providing a foundation for further exploration in EAFV scheduling. The findings contribute to the advancement of sustainable transportation practices in the aviation industry.