Urban public charging infrastructure planning for electric vehicles: A continuum approximation approach

Effective planning of electric vehicle charging infrastructure is crucial for enhancing charging network serviceability, which leads to greater electric vehicle adoption and ultimately contributes to mitigating environmental impact and achieving sustainability. In this study, we propose a novel continuum approximation approach to optimally plan urban public fast charging infrastructure considering spatial heterogeneity. We analytically estimate waiting and travel times to charge with queueing theory and evaluate serviceability over a planning region with spatial heterogeneity. The analytical model determines serviceability with planning factors, including station density and chargers per station; operational factors, such as station assignment rules; and exogenous factors, including charging demand, roadway network, and traffic conditions. We formulate an optimization problem to maximize serviceability and validate our framework in New York City, demonstrating improvements over current infrastructure. Furthermore, we investigate existing issues and provide guidance for future development, offering valuable insights for policymakers in developing efficient urban charging networks.