Unraveling influencing factors of public charging station utilization

Abstract

Accelerating EV adoption is crucial in reducing carbon emissions. To support EV penetration and minimize waste, we analyzed real-world charging status big data in a high-density city heavily reliant on public charging infrastructure. Using a two-part spatial lag of X model, we investigated the impact of charging station attributes and the surrounding built environment on the utilization rates, defined as the ratio of occupied (fast/slow) charging piles to the total available (fast/slow) piles at each station. Our findings reveal that fast charging stations located outdoors, sheltered, and near major roads attract more users, while these factors do not significantly affect the slow utilization rate. Utilization rates are higher for fast charging stations surrounded by a diverse land use mix, while the opposite is observed for slow charging stations. These findings provide valuable insights for the effective operation of charging infrastructure, furthering the development of the new-energy market and sustainable transportation.