Optimizing Energy Consumption in Transportation: Literature Review, Insights, and Research Opportunities

Canan G. Corlu, Rocio de la Torre, Adrian Serrano-Hernandez, Angel A. Juan and Javier Faulin
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Canan G. Corlu: Administrative Sciences Department, Metropolitan College, Boston University, Boston, MA 02215, USA
Rocio de la Torre: INARBE Institute, Public University of Navarre, 31006 Pamplona, Spain
Adrian Serrano-Hernandez: Institute of Smart Cities, Public University of Navarre, 31006 Pamplona, Spain
Angel A. Juan: Internet Interdisciplinary Institute (IN3), Department of Computer Science, Universitat Oberta de Catalunya & Euncet Business School, 08018 Barcelona, Spain
Javier Faulin: Institute of Smart Cities, Public University of Navarre, 31006 Pamplona, Spain

Energies, 2020, vol. 13, issue 5, 1-33

Abstract: From airplanes to electric vehicles and trains, modern transportation systems require large quantities of energy. These vast amounts of energy have to be produced somewhere—ideally by using sustainable sources—and then brought to the transportation system. Energy is a scarce and costly resource, which cannot always be produced from renewable sources. Therefore, it is critical to consume energy as efficiently as possible, that is, transportation activities need to be carried out with an optimal intake of energetic means. This paper reviews existing work on the optimization of energy consumption in the area of transportation, including road freight, passenger rail, maritime, and air transportation modes. The paper also analyzes how optimization methods—of both exact and approximate nature—have been used to deal with these energy-optimization problems. Finally, it provides insights and discusses open research opportunities regarding the use of new intelligent algorithms—combining metaheuristics with simulation and machine learning—to improve the efficiency of energy consumption in transportation.

Keywords: transportation systems; optimization problems; efficient energy consumption; intelligent algorithms; sustainability (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (14)

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