Comparison between optimal refueling infrastructures for zero emission waste transportation vehicles in Valle Camonica

The aim of this work is to conduct a comprehensive and fair comparison between fleets of vehicles powered by different technologies, namely electricity, compressed hydrogen, and liquid hydrogen. The study followed a well-defined methodology, starting with the development of a mixed-integer linear programming (MILP) model using MATLAB and the YALMIP toolbox. The primary objective of the model is to minimize the total annual cost associated with the infrastructure required for refuelling the fleet of zero-emission vehicles. The battery electric vehicle refuelling infrastructure is used as a benchmark, with a total annual cost of around 200000 euro/y. The compressed hydrogen and liquid hydrogen infrastructure are comprehensive of a solar photovoltaic field. The hydrogen refuelling facility are analysed varying the price of the electricity. In the most profitable configuration, the compressed hydrogen refuelling facility cost around 320000 euro/y and for the liquid hydrogen 480000 euro/y. The sensitivity analysis, performed varying the cost of electricity, shows that it is never convenient to use hydrogen vehicles even in condition of high electricity prices. When it is possible to use electric vehicles and there are no constraints related to payload, range or refueling logistics they must be employed, as they are the most cost-effective solution to cancel the vehicles emissions.