The Location Routing Problem of the Car-Sharing System with Autonomous Electric Vehicles

Car-sharing, electrification, and autonomous driving are greatly revolutionizing the future of the transportation system. This study proposes a location routing problem for the car-sharing system with autonomous electric vehicles to determine optimal station location and vehicle routing, where each station is both a depot and a charging station. A mathematical model is formulated and then extended to three variants, while simultaneously considering different recharging and service options. The proposed mixed-integer nonlinear models are separately solved by general algebraic modeling system (GAMS) and genetic algorithm (GA), and the efficiency of the GA is demonstrated. The comparative experimental results of instances are presented, and the benefits of allowing partial recharge are obtained. More significant savings in cost can be achieved if partial service is simultaneously allowed. Furthermore, the trade-off between the operator's interests and the interests of users, as well as the operator's immediate profits and future profits, are explored through sensitivity analysis.