Ramp metering control on wireless charging lanes considering optimal traffic and charging efficiencies

Although transportation issues related to dynamic wireless charging (DWC) have been extensively studied, the real-time traffic control in this scenario has not been well explored due to the lack of suitable traffic models. To address this gap, we explore a ramp metering control problem on wireless charging lanes (WCLs), considering optimal traffic and charging efficiencies. First, we incorporate the state of charge (SOC) of electric vehicles (EVs) into the cell transmission model (CTM) in a mathematically convenient way, reformulating the model as a piecewise affine (PWA) system. Using a hybrid model predictive control (MPC) approach, the control problem at each time stage is formulated as a mixed-integer linear programming (MILP) problem, which is solved by well-established solvers. We conduct numerical experiments on an 8-km WCL for two sample scenarios and another with real traffic demand. We demonstrate both the efficacy and the limitation of ramp metering control on WCLs in terms of maximizing charging efficiency. We also reveal the inherent conflict between traffic efficiency and charging efficiency on a fully covered WCL. The proposed method and experiment results provide a novel tool and valuable insights for traffic authorities and policymakers regarding the management and operations of WCLs.