Logistics companies struggle to keep their supply chain cost-effective, reliable and sustainable, due to changing demand, increasing competition and growing service requirements. To remain competitive, processes must be efficient with low costs. Of the entire supply chain, the first and last mile logistics may be the most difficult aspect due to low volumes, high waiting and shipping times and complex schedules. These inefficiencies account for up to 40% of total transport costs. Connected Automated Transport (CAT) is a technological development that allows for safer, more efficient and cleaner transport, especially for the first- and last-mile. The Connected Automated Driving Roadmap (ERTRAC) states that CAT can revolutionize the way fleets operate. The CATALYST Project (NWO) already shows the advantages of CAT. SAVED builds on several projects and transforms the challenges and solutions that were identified on a strategic level to a tactical and operational (company) level. Despite the high-tech readiness of CAT, commercial acceptance is lacking due to issues regarding profitable integration into existing logistics processes and infrastructures. In-depth research on automated hub-to-hub freight transport is needed, focusing on ideal vehicle characteristics, logistic control of the vehicles (planning, routing, positioning, battery management), control modes (central, decentralized, hybrid), communication modes (vehicle-to-vehicle, vehicle-to-infrastructure) and automation of loading and unloading, followed by the translation of this knowledge into valid business models. Therefore, SAVED focuses on the following question: “How can automated and collaborative hub-to-hub transport be designed, and what is the impact in terms of People, Planet and Profit (PPP) on the logistics value chain of industrial estates of different sizes, layouts and different traffic situations (mixed/unmixed infrastructure)?“ SAVED results in knowledge of the applicability of CAT and the impact on the logistics value chain of various industrial estates, illustrated by two case studies.
An efficient and sustainable logistics process is essential for logistics companies to remain competitive and to manage the dynamic demands and service requirements. Specifically, the first- and last-mile hub-to-hub (inter) logistics is one of the most difficult operations to manage due to low volumes, repetitive operation and short-distance transport, and relatively high waiting times. With the advancements in Industry 4.0 technologies (Internet of Things, Big Data, Cloud computing, Artificial Intelligence), the consortium partners expect that the intelligent and connected technology is a viable solution to improve operational efficiency, coordination, and sustainability of this inter-hub logistics. Despite the promising potential, the impact of technology on inter- and intra-hub (inside hub) logistics operations (such as transportation, communication, and planning) is not well-established. The focus of STEERS is to explore the real-life challenges associated with the logistics operation in a small-to-medium size logistics hub and investigate the potential of intelligent and connected technology to address such challenges. This project will investigate the requirements for the application of automated vehicles in inter-hub transportation and simultaneously explore the potential of intelligent inter-hub corridors. Additionally, inter-hub communications will also provide the opportunity to explore their potential impact on the planning and coordination of intra-hub activities, with an explicit focus on the changing role of human planners. It combines the knowledge of education and research institutes (Hogeschool van Arnhem en Nijmegen, The University of Twente and Hogeschool Rotterdam), logistics industry partners (Bolk Container Transport and Combi Terminal Twente) and public institutes (XL Business Park, Port of Twente and Regio Twente). The insights obtained in this exploratory study will serve as a foundation for the follow-up RAAK-PRO project, in which real-world demonstrators will be developed and tested inside XL Business Park.
Om steden schoner en leefbaarder te maken zijn verschillende steden gestart met de introductie van zero-emissie zones. De verschillende bedrijfssectoren hebben hiervoor veranderingen ingezet, zoals het gebruik van elektrische bestelbussen voor last-mile logistiek en openbaar vervoer middels elektrische bussen. Echter sommige sectoren, zoals marktkramen, zijn nog niet overgestapt op elektrificatie. Diverse belangengroepen hebben aangegeven dat er momenteel geen passende oplossing bestaat om marktkramen zero-emissie te maken. Dit heeft erin geresulteerd dat een uitzondering hebben gekregen en dat marktkramen niet hoeven te voldoen aan de zero-emissie eisen binnen milieuzones. Echter, niet alle bedrijven willen gebruik maken van deze uitzondering. De voortrekkers op het gebied van duurzame productie willen aantonen dat er alternatieven mogelijk zijn. Het doel van dit onderzoek is om emissievrije oplossingen te verkennen voor kleinschalige marktverkoop. De uitdagingen liggen in het maken van gefundeerde keuzes voor een zero-emissie voertuig op basis van daadwerkelijke reizen en energieverbruik; maximale inzetbaarheid waarbij het doel om het toelaatbare gewicht van de marktkraam maximaal 3500 kg is; en kostenefficiëntie door middel van integratie met het energienetwerk van het bedrijf. Tijdens dit onderzoek wordt gekeken naar een marktkraam voertuig toepasbaar voor kaasverkoop waarbij ook de kazen gekoeld aangeboden moeten worden. Hiervoor wordt gekeken naar hybride oplossingen voor speciale voertuigen, en in deze specifieke toepassing naar de combinatie van een batterij elektrisch voertuig voorzien van zonnepanelen. Immers, de benodigde koelcapaciteit zal verband houden met de hoeveelheid zon.
