Battery Management in Electric Vehicle Routing Problems: A Review

The adoption of electric vehicles (EVs) has gained significant momentum in recent years as a sustainable alternative to traditional internal combustion engine vehicles. However, the efficient utilization of batteries in EVs, coupled with the growing demand for sustainable transportation, has posed complex challenges for battery management in the context of electric vehicle routing problems in a broad sense, which includes vehicle routing problems, team orienteering problems, and arc routing problems, all of them using EVs. This paper presents a comprehensive review of the state-of-the-art approaches, methodologies, and strategies for battery management in each of the aforementioned optimization problems. We explore the relevant factors influencing battery performance and the interplay between routing, charging, and energy management in the context of EVs. The paper also discusses the advances in optimization algorithms, vehicle-to-grid integration, and intelligent decision-making techniques aimed at enhancing the range, reliability, and sustainability of EV operations. Key findings indicate a paradigm shift towards addressing uncertainties, dynamic conditions, and synchronization challenges inherent in large-scale and dynamic routing problems within the context of EVs that require efficient battery management.