As the worldwide fleet of EVs expands, it’s becoming clear that governments around the world need to make significant investments in public charging infrastructure. However, there are few examples to follow in developing an effective rollout strategy.

A new study, published in the journal Energy Policy, aims to guide policy makers in the deployment of future charging infrastructure. The study analyzes the use of 1,700 public charging points in the Netherlands over the first 4 years of EV adoption, representing more than 1.3 million charging sessions.

The Netherlands is second only to Norway in per-capita EV adoption, and its public charging infrastructure may serve as a good example for other regions. The country currently has around 132,000 EVs and 15,000 public charging points. In the Netherlands and elsewhere, two rollout strategies have been used: demand-driven and strategic rollout. In demand-driven rollout, the installation of a charging point is based upon a request by an EV owner for a charging point near their home or office. In strategic rollout, the local government places charging points near strategic locations such as shopping areas and tourist attractions.

The study found that strategic charging points are used more during the daytime, by more unique users and with shorter connection times, whereas demand-driven chargers are used more by residential users, with longer connection times and higher charging volumes.

The research shows that a demand-driven approach is effective in the early adoption phase, whereas strategic rollout becomes more important as user numbers grow.

“Sufficient infrastructure will promote EV sales, but oversupply of infrastructure can be expensive and negatively impact scarce parking space,” says report co-author Professor Robert van den Hoed. “It is therefore crucial to understand what the appropriate level of investment is at any given time.”

Source: Hogeschool van Amsterdam