Setting Up EV Blocking
Before using the electric vehicle (EV) blocking features, there are a few key setup steps:
Garage Fuel Type: Ensure you have a garage with the correct fuel type. Currently, the platform supports three fuel types: CNG, diesel, and electric. Unlike CNG and diesel, which function as a simple 1-to-1 match with vehicles, electric introduces additional complexity.
Locate your garage, right click and select the appropriate fuel types.
If you do not have a garage on your map, simply right click where your garage is located and select "add stop or a place to the map".
2. Vehicle Types Configuration: Set up vehicle types with a defined fuel type, range, and charge time.
The solver currently treats fueling time and range as binary values. For example, if a charge time is set to 120 minutes, the vehicle must be in the garage for the full 120 minutes to charge fully. If it's there for only 119 minutes, no charge is applied. This is a foundational step in a broader effort to enhance algorithmic capabilities over time.
EV Features in the Blocking Module
To enable EV blocking in the Blocking platform:
Turn on Range Planning: Navigate to the Settings tab in the top-left corner and toggle on “Consider Fuel Range.” This activates the feature in both the solver and UI.
2. Viewing Vehicle Types in Blocking: The most useful function in the platform today is checking whether an existing block can be supported by a vehicle’s range. To do this:
Turn on the range planning toggle.
Add the Vehicle Type column in the blocking headers.
Create different vehicle types with varying ranges and apply them to blocks for comparison.
Toggle different vehicle types on and off for specific blocks to see where a vehicle might run out of range.
Factoring EV constraints into blocking optimization
Apply at the Vehicle Type Level: Assign vehicle types with range limitations to specific transit routes.
2. Run the Solver: When executed, the solver will respect the assigned vehicle types and their range constraints.
Technology Limitations: Currently, this implementation is relatively simple, meaning the solver applies range constraints in a straightforward manner without dynamic adjustments. Future improvements will enhance flexibility and accuracy in modeling EV operations.
By following these steps, users can start incorporating EV planning into their scheduling workflows while preparing for more advanced features in the future.