Prospect of establishing electric vehicle charging stations at public hotspots

ABSTRACT Electric vehicles (EVs) emerged as a promising technology to cater sustainable transportation. The inadequacy of electric vehicle charging stations (EVCSs) leads to diminishing EV customer delight. Public hotspots have recognized as the best locations to establish EVCSs if feasible. Hence, this research focuses on the prospect of establishing public hotspot-based EVCSs in Sri Lanka. A literature review was conducted to explore the factors to be considered for the establishment under six feasibility aspects. The mixed approach was used, including a questionnaire survey with EV users and interviews with stakeholders representing public authorities, charging equipment suppliers, owners of dedicated EVCSs, and managerial personnel of public hotspots-based EVCSs. Content analysis was involved to evaluate stakeholders’ opinions and relative importance index was involved to rank identified public hotspots. Economic feasibility was supported by cost–benefit analysis, while carbon footprint calculation was conducted to analyse the environmental feasibility. The results revealed hotels as the most suitable public hotspot. Zoos were identified as the least suitable public hotspots. The economic feasibility revealed a value of more than one in benefit–cost ratio and positive net present value. Moreover, the other feasibility aspects confirmed public hotspots-based EVCSs as a feasible initiative in Sri Lanka.