Identifying locations for electric vehicle charging stations in urban areas through the application of multicriteria techniques

Abstract

The incorporation of electric vehicles (EVs) into urban mobility is increasing daily, driving the need to incorporate urban charging stations (EVCSs) additionally. This study proposes a methodology for identifying adequate EVCS locations within an urban area. This methodology is based on the joint application of multicriteria decision-making methods (MCDMs) to solve urban planning problems related to the placement of EVCSs. As a starting point, the locations of the existing fossil fuel supply stations in each city are used as alternatives. The city of Cuenca, Ecuador, is used as a case study. Criteria and subcriteria have also been determined based on the available information and are used to propose three scenarios based on their value variation, which is established as preponderance weights. Among the results obtained, three alternatives scored better than the rest in most of the evaluations. As there was no conclusive result, a statistical analysis was conducted to strengthen the decision-making process and determine the most favourable potential locations. • Increased EV demand drives the establishment of EVCSs. • The combination of MCDMs avoids ambiguity in linguistic evaluations. • City centre gas stations are prioritized as potential charging stations. • The results aid in the analysis of citywide electrical systems and enhance EV accessibility. • The results provide a starting point for future research and infrastructure planning.