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Towards building an understanding of electrification of logistics systems - A literature review and a research agenda
Linköping University, Department of Management and Engineering, Logistics & Quality Management. Linköping University, Faculty of Science & Engineering.ORCID iD: 0000-0001-6575-715x
Linköping University, Department of Management and Engineering, Logistics & Quality Management. Linköping University, Faculty of Science & Engineering.
Linköping University, Department of Management and Engineering, Logistics & Quality Management. Linköping University, Faculty of Science & Engineering.ORCID iD: 0000-0001-8969-9396
2024 (English)In: CLEANER LOGISTICS AND SUPPLY CHAIN, ISSN 2772-3909, Vol. 10, article id 100134Article, review/survey (Refereed) Published
Abstract [en]

While electrification of freight deliveries has the potential to heavily reduce the sector's negative impact, there is a clear lack of understanding how logistics systems are affected when electric freight vehicles are implemented. The purpose of the paper is to present an overview of the area and identify major gaps in the literature. A systematic literature review was conducted, with an initial sample of 353 papers, finally resulting in 62 papers after several exclusion steps. A descriptive analysis showed that the area is growing fast and that a vast majority of the papers applied mathematical methods with transport data. Further, five categories were deemed of interest in relation to logistics and electrification in the analysed literature: transport operation, charging, cost, actors, and sustainability. Each category is elaborated on and described in the paper. Additionally, the discussion includes several research gaps that the paper proposes need to be addressed to achieve viable electrified logistics systems and the gaps resulted in a research agenda with seven bullet points aiming to guide future research. The research agenda include, how planning of logistics systems is affected when charging is included; how logistics performance is affected when adopting electric trucks, and there is a need to include actors and their perspectives to a larger extent than what is done in the current literature. By highlighting what is missing in the literature, this paper strives to be an important addition to achieve viable electrified logistics systems, which can ultimately lead to a reduction of the freight sector's negative climate impact.

Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
ELSEVIER , 2024. Vol. 10, article id 100134
Keywords [en]
Logistics; Performance; Electrification; Freight Transport; Sustainability
National Category
Economic Geography
Identifiers
URN: urn:nbn:se:liu:diva-200357DOI: 10.1016/j.clscn.2023.100134ISI: 001138531100001OAI: oai:DiVA.org:liu-200357DiVA, id: diva2:1830599
Note

Funding Agencies|Swedish Electromobility Centre; VINNOVA; Sweden's innovation agency

Available from: 2024-01-23 Created: 2024-01-23 Last updated: 2024-11-25
In thesis
1. Electrifying road freight: With whom to coordinate and why?
Open this publication in new window or tab >>Electrifying road freight: With whom to coordinate and why?
2024 (English)Licentiate thesis, comprehensive summary (Other academic)
Abstract [en]

Electrification of heavy-duty vehicles is one possible solution that can take us towards greener logistics. Actors, such as logistics service providers (LSPs) and shippers, are central in electrification of logistics, since they are the ones who will realise the transition. Currently, heavy-duty battery electric vehicles (HBEVs) suffer from limitations in range, lack of charging infrastructure, and high investment costs which may be reasons why the adoption is going slow. Previous research points to the need for interaction between actors to overcome these challenges and to facilitate the adoption of HBEVs, where one way to interact is through coordination. Therefore, the purpose of this thesis is to explore coordination between actors when implementing heavy-duty battery electric vehicles in road freight transport, and is investigated with the support of three research questions (RQs).

This thesis takes its theoretical starting point in the research areas of green logistics, actors in logistics systems, and coordination which was studied through six coordination mechanisms. An explorative approach to the purpose was deemed suitable for this thesis, according to the novelty of HBEVs in logistics and the lack of studies on coordination in this specific context. The research takes a qualitative approach based on semi-structured interviews and focus groups, in combination with literature reviews.

In RQ1, which actors can be part of electrified logistics systems?, one of the main findings is an actor framework. It presents actors in electrified logistics systems, such as LSPs and shippers, and thereafter divides them into central actors, semi-central actors and stakeholders. This division is useful to increase understanding of which actors are involved in electrification and how they impact the system in different ways.

In RQ2, how can LSPs coordinate with shippers to facilitate the adoption of HBEVs in freight transport?, the findings suggest that to enable for coordination, both actors must have a common belief in the need for greening logistics. Shippers can, through the coordination mechanism direct supervision, demand transport services with HBEVs and thereby initiate the use of such vehicles. In the next step, the transport assignments can be coordinated through the coordination mechanism mutual adjustment, such as changes in lead-times. The LSP-shipper relationship is also characterised by a lack of knowledge regarding electrification which currently inhibits coordination through the coordination mechanisms standardisation of work and standardisation of output. Therefore, significant efforts are required from both actors when they instead need to coordinate through mutual adjustment.

In RQ3, how can LSPs coordinate with other actors to facilitate the adoption of HBEVs in freight transport?, the findings point to needs for coordination between LSPs and other central actors identified in RQ1 such as hauliers, truck manufacturers and energy companies. For example, the findings point to coordination needs with the haulier resembling the LSP-shipper relationship. There is also a need for deepened relationship with the truck manufacturer and coordination through the coordination mechanism standardisation of output, which is currently lacking in the relationship.

In sum, the findings point to a need for increased knowledge about electrification and its impact on logistics from an actor perspective, if HBEVs are to be integrated into logistics systems successfully. The findings point to the need for involvement of different actors within different sectors and joint efforts through coordination in order to achieve such a transition. After all, to achieve a fully electrified logistics system, where electric vehicles are the first choice in road freight, there is a need to get all actors on board to build the logistics systems of the future. 

Abstract [sv]

Elektrifiering av tunga fordon är en möjlig lösning som kan ta oss mot grönare logistik. Aktörer, som logistikföretag (LSP:er) och varuägare är, på grund av sina roller som transportör och transportköpare, centrala i omställningen till ett elektrifierat logistiksystem. Tunga batteridrivna lastbilar (HBEVs) kämpar idag med utmaningar kring begränsad räckvidd, brist på laddinfrastruktur och höga investeringskostnader, vilket medför nya förutsättningar i logistiksystemen, och kan vara en anledning till att införandet av HBEVs går långsamt. Tidigare forskning lyfter behovet av samarbete mellan aktörer för att hantera dessa utmaningar och underlätta införandet av HBEVs, där ett sätt att samarbeta på är genom koordinering. Därför är syftet med denna licentiatavhandling att utforska koordinering mellan aktörer vid implementering av HBEVs inom godstransporter på väg. Syftet undersöks med hjälp av tre forskningsfrågor.

Denna licentiatavhandling tar sin teoretiska utgångspunkt i tre forskningsområden: grön logistik, aktörer inom logistiksystem, och koordinering som studerades genom sex koordineringsmekanismer. En explorativ ansats användes eftersom HBEVs är ett relativt nytt fenomen inom logistik, och det saknas studier om hur aktörer kan koordinera i detta specifika sammanhang. Forskningen är kvalitativ och baseras på semistrukturerade intervjuer och fokusgrupper, i kombination med litteraturöversikter.

I forskningsfråga 1, vilka aktörer kan ingå i elektrifierade logistiksystem?, är resultatet ett ramverk av aktörer. Ramverket presenterar aktörer involverade i elektrifierade logistiksystem, såsom LSP:er och varuägare, och delar därefter in dem i: centrala aktörer, semicentrala aktörer och intressenter. Denna uppdelning är användbar för att öka förståelsen för vilka aktörer som är involverade i elektrifiering och hur de påverkar systemet på olika sätt.

I forskningsfråga 2, hur kan LSP:er koordinera med varuägare för att underlätta införandet av HBEVs i godstransporter?, tyder resultatet på att för att möjliggöra koordinering måste båda aktörerna ha en gemensam syn på behovet av grönare logistik. Varuägare kan genom koordineringsmekanismen direct supervision efterfråga transporttjänster med HBEVs, och därigenom initiera användningen av sådana lastbilar. I nästa steg kan transportuppdragen koordineras genom koordineringsmekanismen mutual adjustment, till exempel att möjliggöra för ändrade ledtider. Relationen mellan LSP:er och varuägare kännetecknas också av låg kunskap kring elektrifiering i stort, vilket i dag hämmar koordinering genom koordineringsmekanismerna standardisation of work och standardisation of output, och därför krävs stora ansträngningar från båda aktörerna när de istället behöver koordinera genom mutual adjustment.

I forskningsfråga 3, hur kan LSP:er koordinera med andra aktörer för att underlätta införandet av HBEVs i godstransporter?, pekar resultatet på behov av koordinering mellan LSP:er och andra centrala aktörer som identifierats i RQ1 såsom åkerier och lastbilstillverkare. Resultatet pekar till exempel på att koordineringsbehovet med åkeriet påminner om relationen mellan LSP:er och varuägare, men också på ett behov av fördjupad relation med lastbilstillverkaren och koordinering genom koordineringsmekanismen standardisation of output, som för närvarande saknas.

Sammanfattningsvis visar resultatet på ett behov av mer kunskap om hur elektrifiering påverkar logistik och hur HBEVs kan integreras i logistiksystemen framgångsrikt. Resultaten pekar också på behovet av att involvera olika aktörer inom olika sektorer, som behöver koordinera sinsemellan för att åstadkomma en sådan omställning. Slutligen, för att uppnå ett helt elektrifierat logistiksystem, där HBEVs är förstahandsvalet för godstransporter, behöver alla aktörer vara med på resan och tillsammans bygga framtidens logistiksystem.  

Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
Linköping: Linköping University Electronic Press, 2024. p. 79
Series
Linköping Studies in Science and Technology. Licentiate Thesis, ISSN 0280-7971 ; 2008
National Category
Transport Systems and Logistics
Identifiers
urn:nbn:se:liu:diva-208961 (URN)10.3384/9789180758796 (DOI)9789180758789 (ISBN)9789180758796 (ISBN)
Presentation
2024-11-29, ACAS, A-huset, Campus Valla, Linköping, 10:15
Opponent
Supervisors
Note

2024-10-30: ISBN (Print) has been corrected in the E-version.

Available from: 2024-10-30 Created: 2024-10-30 Last updated: 2024-11-05Bibliographically approved

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