Equitable charging infrastructure for electric vehicles: Access and experience

Abstract

The shift toward electric vehicles (EVs) as a decarbonization strategy in transportation raises important energy justice concerns, particularly regarding fair access to charging infrastructure. This perspective synthesizes evidence on how access to, and experience of, charging infrastructure may differ across socio-economic groups across North America. We present a framework for assessing charging infrastructure equity that includes: (i) accessibility—proximity, reliability, visibility, affordability; and (ii) user experiences related to safety, payment ease, and co-located other services. The framework helps characterize the varied impacts across socio-demographic groups, including on low-income and marginalized communities. We explore how the direct and indirect effects of accessibility and user experience might influence the distribution and design of EV charging stations. Considerations of socio-economic diversity in the deployment of charging infrastructure are critical to ensure equitable benefits from electric mobility. We conclude that targeted actions from manufacturers, charging operators, and governments are needed to alleviate the disparities in access and experiences with public EV charging.