Comparative Analysis of Spatial Distribution and Mechanism Differences Between Public Electric Vehicle Charging Stations and Traditional Gas Stations: A Case Study from Wenzhou, China

Jingmin Pan, Aoyang Li, Bo Tang (), Fei Wang, Chao Chen, Wangyu Wu and Bingcai Wei
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Jingmin Pan: Department of Emergency Technology, Zhejiang College of Security Technology, Wenzhou 325016, China
Aoyang Li: School of Resources and Planning, Guangzhou Xinhua University, Guangzhou 510520, China
Bo Tang: School of Resources and Planning, Guangzhou Xinhua University, Guangzhou 510520, China
Fei Wang: School of Resources and Planning, Guangzhou Xinhua University, Guangzhou 510520, China
Chao Chen: College of Materials Science and Engineering, Taiyuan University of Technology, Taiyuan 030024, China
Wangyu Wu: School of Computer Science, University of Liverpool, Liverpool L69 3BX, UK
Bingcai Wei: School of Computer Science, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430072, China

Sustainability, 2025, vol. 17, issue 17, 1-30

Abstract: With the impact of fossil energy on the climate environment and the development of energy technologies, new energy vehicles, represented by electric cars, have begun to receive increasing attention and emphasis. The rapid proliferation of public charging infrastructure for NEVs has concurrently influenced traditional petrol station networks, creating measurable disparities in their spatial distributions that warrant systematic investigation. This research examines Wenzhou City, China, as a representative case area, employing multi-source Point of Interest (POI) data and spatial analysis models to analyse differential characteristics in spatial layout accessibility, service equity, and underlying driving mechanisms between public electric vehicle charging stations (EV) and traditional gas stations (GS). The findings reveal that public electric vehicle charging stations exhibit a pronounced “single-centre concentration with weak multi-centre linkage” spatial configuration, heavily reliant on dual-core drivers of population density and economic activity. This results in marked service accessibility declines in peripheral areas, resembling a cliff-like drop, and a relatively low spatial equity index. In contrast, traditional gas stations demonstrate a “core-axis linkage” diffusion pattern with strong coupling to urban road networks, showing gradient attenuation in service coverage efficiency along transportation arteries, fewer suburban service gaps, and more gradual accessibility reductions. Location entropy analysis further indicates that charging station deployment shows significant capital-oriented tendencies, with certain areas exhibiting paradoxical “excess facilities” phenomena, while gas station distribution aligns more closely with road network topology and transportation demand dynamics. Furthermore, the layout characteristics of public charging stations feature a more complex and diverse range of land use types, while traditional gas stations have a strong dependence on industrial land. This research elucidates the spatial distribution patterns of emerging and legacy energy infrastructure in the survey regions, providing critical empirical evidence for optimising energy infrastructure allocation and facilitating coordinated transportation system transitions. The findings also offer practical insights for the construction of energy supply facilities in urban development frameworks, holding substantial reference value for achieving sustainable urban spatial governance.

Keywords: spatial distribution; public electric vehicle charging stations; gas stations; accessibility and facility fairness; layout differences (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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