Recharging Retail: Estimating Consumer Demand Spillovers from Electric Vehicle Charging Stations

Abstract

Problem definition: We estimate the impact of electric vehicle (EV) charging stations on volumes of consumer foot traffic received by nearby retail establishments. We also explore the conditions under which any effects manifest. Methodology/results: We use a differences-in-differences design, exploiting the staggered introduction of Tesla Supercharger stations across the United States. We combine data on Supercharger installations with mobile phone–based estimates of retailer foot traffic. We explore heterogeneity in the treatment effect, in terms of EV charger characteristics, visitor characteristics, establishment type, and local physical context. We estimate that establishments experience an average 4% increase in monthly visits following the installation of a Tesla Supercharger. These effects arise primarily for retailers that offer relatively quick services (e.g., fast food) and for those located very near to the charger (within 150 meters). The effects are also more pronounced when the Supercharger is one of the first EV chargers introduced into the local area. Managerial implications: We document evidence of the positive retail demand spillovers arising from EV charging station infrastructure. We also document the conditions under which the benefits manifest. Insights for EV network operators, retailers, and policymakers are included. Supplemental Material: The online appendix is available at https://doi.org/10.1287/msom.2022.0519 .