Park-and-Ride: The Case for Coupling EV Charging Stations with Micro-mobility Hubs

Abstract

Electric vehicle (EV) ownership is skyrocketing while authorities are scrambling to expand their charging infrastructure networks. In urban areas, they all face the ever-pertinent question of maximizing the marginal benefits of each new EV charger. This paper aims to make the case of coupling EV charging stations with micro mobility-hubs as a way of increasing each station’s area of influence, thus amplifying its potential service population. The case study of the Municipality of Kifissia is used to demonstrate the benefits of an EV charging station coupling with micro-mobility. The model will take into account the potential EV users of the selected area, available and planned EV charging stations and the local road network characteristics in order to formulate an alternative way of combined micro-mobility and EV infrastructure planning. The model is then tested in existing urban environments and with emerging results indicating that the theory can be a valuable tool in charging infrastructure planning. The developed methodology led to the delineation of the influence area of EV chargers with or without micro-mobility and the determination of the most suitable ones for coupling. Thus, it paves the way for a novel less-is-more approach to incentivizing EV usage and planning the necessary infrastructure – one of particular importance to national and local authorities that are just now embracing e-mobility.