An optimization framework for cost effective design of refueling station infrastructure for alternative fuel vehicles

Historically, gasoline and diesel fuels have been used for transportation, but the possible decline of oil supplies in the future is forcing nations to consider alternative fuels. Most technically and economically feasible alternative fuels have a lower energy density than gasoline, which results in a shorter range for these vehicles. This necessitates a greater need for convenient access to refueling facilities for alternative fuel vehicles. Since infrastructure development is expensive, there is a need to direct investments towards the establishment of refueling facilities in areas which result in maximum impact. This can be addressed by locating facilities at sites which service as many vehicles as possible. This work deals with the use of mathematical programming for determining the best locations for establishing alternative transportation fuel stations. The objective was to site the refueling stations at locations which maximize the number of vehicles served, while staying within budget constraints. The model used here is a modified form of the flow interception facility location model. For the case study we used the transportation network of Alexandria, Virginia, as a test bed for our model. Origin-destination travel demand data for this city is simulated through a transportation simulator to determine the routes taken by individual vehicles. The results are then compared with the service level offered by conventional gasoline refueling stations already located in the city. This work integrates the use of transportation modeling with mathematical programming for the solution of a complex large-scale problem on a real-life transportation network.

► We proposed a methodology for alternative fuel refueling infrastructure development.
► Our framework combines state of the art traffic simulation with mathematical programming.
► Results compared with current state of evolutionary refueling infrastructure development.
► Proposed a methodology for low cost retrofitting of existing gas stations.