Alternative fuel station location model with demand learning

Shahzad F. Bhatti, Michael Kim Lim, Ho Yin Mak

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

In this paper, we study the optimal location decision for a network of alternative fuel stations (AFS) servicing a new market where the demand rate for the refueling service can be learned over time. In the presence of demand learning, the firm needs to make a decision, whether to actively learn the market through a greater initial investment in the AFS network or defer the commitment since an overly-aggressive investment often results in sub-optimal AFS locations. To illustrate this trade-off, we introduce a two-stage location model, in which the service provider enters the market by deploying a set of stations in the first stage under uncertainty, and has the option to add more stations in the second stage after it learns the demand. The demand learning time (length of the first stage) is endogenously determined by the service provider’s action in the first stage. To solve this problem, we develop an efficient solution method that provides a framework to achieve a desired error rate of accuracy in the optimal solution. Using numerical experiment, we study the trade-off between active learning and deferred commitment in AFS deployment strategy under different market characteristics. Further, we find that the lack of planning foresight typically results in an over-commitment in facility investment while the service provider earns a lower expected profit.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)105-127
Number of pages23
JournalAnnals of Operations Research
Volume230
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - Jul 8 2015

Keywords

  • Alternative fuel station operations
  • Demand learning
  • Facility location
  • Maximal covering problem

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Decision Sciences(all)
  • Management Science and Operations Research

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