Self-reported public fast charging infrastructure demand: What do existing and potential electric vehicle adopters want and where?

Abstract

Electric vehicles (EVs) promise emissions reduction, but adoption rates must increase to meet 2030 targets. Since public fast charging infrastructure (PFCI) is considered important to increase EV uptake, this research aims to assess its demand across existing and potential EV adopters in Ireland. Online mapping tools were used to capture 1635 self-reported locations where users prefer PFCI, along with other related preferences from 545 respondents. The results were analysed using a mixed-method approach including exploratory factor analysis (EFA), Geographic Information System (GIS), two-step cluster analysis, and qualitative analysis. The results indicate that expanding PFCI is critical for increasing EV uptake, with 81.4% of potential EV adopters showing a significant impact on uptake. Major deterrents identified include insufficient availability of public fast chargers followed by high charging costs. The qualitative analysis highlights existing EV users’ demand for improved end-user experiences, such as unified payment systems. Most preferred locations for PFCI installation include travel routes, followed by shopping centres/ supermarkets. Results also indicate that a reliable second-hand market would be key to increasing EV uptake. The findings from this study can serve policymakers in effectively rolling out PFCI, while the methodology employed can be replicated in other comparable study areas.