Current Practices in Electricy Demand and Charging Scheduling for On-Road Electric Fleet Operations: An Industry-Wide Review
This review provides insights for researchers and developers working on solutions for the operational planning challenges faced by electric fleet managers.
This paper reviews current industry practices in electricity demand and charging scheduling for on-road electric fleet operations, identifying key trends and gaps in digital systems for operational decision-making. It highlights the challenges introduced by battery electric vehicles, such as heterogeneous charging speeds, volatile electricity prices, and infrastructure scarcity.
The electrification of on-road fleet logistics promises improved air quality, lower noise emissions, major climate benefits, increased energy flexibility through the use of locally generated electricity and reduced dependence on imported fuels. However, battery electric vehicles can introduce operational planning challenges not present with internal combustion engine vehicles, including heterogeneous charging speeds, exposure to volatile electricity prices, and scarcity in infrastructure. Managing these complexities requires solutions that balance cost efficiency and robustness, supported by sector coupling between transport and electricity systems. This paper reviews the current state of digital systems for operational decision-making in electric fleet management through a grey literature analysis, drawing on practitioner-oriented sources such as industry reports, company documentation, and technical blogs that reflect real-world practices and developments. We identify key trends and gaps, providing insights to guide future research and development.