Vehicle Routing Problem with Optimal Fuel Cell and Battery Energy Management

The increasing demand for sustainable transportation solutions has positioned hydrogen fuel cell vehicles (FCVs) as a viable alternative to conventional internal combustion engine vehicles and battery electric vehicles. FCVs utilize green hydrogen as a clean energy source, offering key advantages such as zero greenhouse gas emissions, extended driving ranges, and rapid refueling capabilities. However, the integration of FCVs into vehicle routing problems (VRPs) remains insufficiently explored, particularly concerning their unique hybrid energy systems. This study introduces a novel Fuel Cell Vehicle Routing Problem (FVRP) model that accounts for the dynamic interactions between hydrogen fuel cells and the auxiliary battery, thereby ensuring precise energy management. A case study is presented to establish benchmark results for the proposed FVRP model under the given parameter setup. To the best of our knowledge, this research is the first to examine FCV energy behavior within the context of VRPs, contributing to the advancement of hydrogen-powered mobility and the optimization of FCV operations within sustainable logistics frameworks.