Optimal pricing and vehicle routing of vehicle-to-vehicle charging platform with time windows

Abstract

This study optimizes the pricing and vehicle routing for a Vehicle-to-Vehicle (V2V) charging platform, which pairs Charging Vehicles (CVs) with Discharging Vehicles (DVs), where CV owners pay for the service and DV owners are compensated. A Vehicle Routing Problem of V2V charging platform with Zone-based Pricing and Time Window (VRPTW-V2V-ZP) is formulated, that optimizes zonal electricity rates, wage rates, and routing strategies to maximize platform profitability, taking into account the engagement levels of both CV and DV owners. The zone-based pricing allows for differential pricing across various zones, optimizing profit margins in response to localized EV charging demands and the presence of competing Charging Infrastructures (CIs). To address the computational challenges of large-scale problems, a customized Variable Neighborhood Search (VNS) algorithm is proposed, demonstrating excellent performance in terms of solution quality and efficiency. Using a real-world network in Changsha, China, the zone-based pricing strategy improved the V2V platform profitability compared to the unified pricing strategy. Moreover, increasing the number of CVs and DVs on the platform reduces the average charging cost for CVs and improves platform profitability. This creates a virtuous cycle that enhances service quality and attracts additional users, thereby contributing to sustainable transportation and the growth of the V2V charging ecosystem.