Publication Detail

Driving the Market for Plug-In Vehicles: Developing Charging Infrastructure for Consumers

UCD-ITS-RR-18-45

Research Report

Electric Vehicle Research Center

Suggested Citation:
Hardman, Scott, Gil Tal, Thomas S. Turrentine, Jonn Axsen, George Beard, Nicolò Daina, Erik Figenbaum, Niklas Jakobsson, Alan Jenn, Patrick Jochem, Neale Kinnear, Patrick Plötz, Jose Pontes, Nazir Refa, Frances Sprei, Bert Witkamp (2018) Driving the Market for Plug-In Vehicles: Developing Charging Infrastructure for Consumers. Institute of Transportation Studies, University of California, Davis, Research Report UCD-ITS-RR-18-45

Plug-in electric vehicles (PEVs) are more efficient and less polluting than internal combustion engine vehicles (ICEVs). For PEVs to have the most significant impact on urban air pollution, energy consumption, and climate change, their market share will need to increase quickly. A robust and reliable PEV charging infrastructure is needed to help grow the market. Moreover, PEV charging infrastructure must meet the needs of PEV drivers, so it requires careful consideration. All PEV stakeholders, including automakers, electric utilities, PEV drivers, employers, housing developers, charging station manufacturers and service providers, and any other stakeholders, need to communicate and coordinate on the development of charging infrastructure. Policymakers can play a central role in ensuring that infrastructure not only meets consumers’ needs and helps drive the PEV market, but also serves the broader community, is efficient, and thoughtfully planned.

This guide offers considerations for charging infrastructure to support PEV market development. It provides information on charging levels, charging points, location, access and payment, costs, considerations for households with on-street parking, the number of public charging stations needed, dependability, charge management, and implications for public transit.

Key words: electric vehicles, policy, infrastructure