Abstract:

The decarbonization strategies developed by the European Union and by different European countries are fostering the development of different technologies, including electric vehicles (EVs). The analysis carried out in this paper highlights the rapid and continuous increase of public accessible EV charging infrastructure in most European countries in the last five years, with a gradual increase of fast and ultra-fast charging points in 2019 and 2020. If coupled with a low-carbon electricity mix, electric vehicles (EVs) can represent an important technology for transport decarbonization and local pollutants abatement. However, an appropriate charging station network must be established to ensure large-scale EV adoption. This paper provides the first comprehensive bottom-up analysis of the EV charging network in Europe. Combining a crowd-sourced database of charging stations with accessibility data and algorithms, the authors produce maps of the travel time to the most accessible EV charging station across Europe, and also evaluate the charging points density and the number of active operators in different areas. The authors find that although recent years have witnessed a notable expansion of the EV charging network, stark inequalities persist across and within countries, both in terms of accessibility and of the charging points available to users. The results allow for a better understanding of some of the key challenges ahead for ensuring mass EVs adoption throughout Europe and thus potentially reducing the environmental impact of the transport sector. The electricity supply to EVs need to be optimized by matching the charging profiles with the available generation from low-carbon sources, by means of smart charging strategies and other flexibility measures when needed. EV charging infrastructure should be part of a broader strategy that aims at optimizing the entire energy system. The electricity supply to electric vehicles must be optimised by matching charging profiles to available low-carbon generation, using smart charging strategies, and other flexibility measures as required. EV charging infrastructure should be part of a larger plan aimed at improving the energy system as a whole.