An Analytical Framework for Assessing Equity of Access to Public Electric Vehicle Charging Stations: The Case of Shanghai

Yuchao Cai, Jie Zhang (), Quan Gu and Chenlu Wang
Additional contact information
Yuchao Cai: School of Art Design and Media, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai 200231, China
Jie Zhang: School of Art Design and Media, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai 200231, China
Quan Gu: School of Art Design and Media, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai 200231, China
Chenlu Wang: School of Art Design and Media, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai 200231, China

Sustainability, 2024, vol. 16, issue 14, 1-38

Abstract: With the unprecedented growth of electric vehicles usage, the equitable population-based provision of public charging services has become an important concern in high-density urban centers. To address sustainability concerns, this study explores an analytical framework for assessing the equity of access to public charging services. By comprehensively analyzing factors such as accessibility, the Gini coefficient, the correlation coefficient, and supply–demand matching, we investigated the unequal access to public charging stations within 24 types of sites in central Shanghai. The spatial distribution and accessibility were visualized to illustrate differences in service access. Subsequently, social equity was assessed by considering the population distribution and identifying areas of supply–demand imbalance. The results show that 81% of households share only 10% of public charging services, suggesting a generalized inequality within areas and facilities. Residents of large-scale, low-density, low-grade neighborhoods have difficulties accessing services. Nearly 66.96% of subdistricts have supply and demand conflicts. In addition, priority types of improvement were identified and directions for improvement were suggested, as well as recommendations for the integration of PCSs with exterior built places. We also found significant differences in accessibility and equity at both the district and subdistrict level. The findings of this study will help urban planners assess and locate unequal areas and provide insights and the basis for further expansion into the analysis methods adopted at different stages to achieve sustainable development.

Keywords: accessibility; equity; public charging stations; electric vehicles; supply and demand (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2024
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (3)

Downloads: (external link)
https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/16/14/6196/pdf (application/pdf)
https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/16/14/6196/ (text/html)

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:16:y:2024:i:14:p:6196-:d:1439024

Access Statistics for this article

Sustainability is currently edited by Ms. Alexandra Wu

More articles in Sustainability from MDPI
Bibliographic data for series maintained by MDPI Indexing Manager ().