Due to environmental pollution and the ever-growing energy demand, there has been a shift from conventional vehicles toward electric vehicles (EVs). Public acceptance of EVs and their large-scale deployment raise the requirement for a fully operational charging infrastructure. Charging station (CS) planning for electric vehicles (EVs) for a region has become an important concern for urban planners to meet the escalating demand for EVs. There are diverse challenges and parameters concerned with finding an optimal placement and infrastructure planning for setting up charging stations for electric vehicles in a smart city. This chapter aims to provide a comprehensive review of some recent state-of-the-art proposals on this emerging research field. The core proposal presented in techniques are elaborated and the advantages and disadvantages of the proposals are unveiled. A comparison of the reviewed techniques is also depicted, and light is flashed on the future direction of research in this field.
TopIntroduction
Attention to the environment in consideration of sustainable development has become an utmost necessity for the survival of humans and other species. The rise in greenhouse gas emissions from diverse sectors is not only the driving factor for global warming, but it also has damaging effects on human health related to cardiovascular and respiratory diseases (Tan, 2022; Gonzalez, 2022). Research has found its adverse impacts on pregnancy, such as premature birth, reduced birth weight, and physical and mental disabilities (Olson, 2020).
Socioeconomic factors significantly influence the adoption and development of electric vehicles (EVs) and charging stations. Economic considerations, such as the affordability of EVs and the cost of charging infrastructure, play a crucial role. Socioeconomic factors, including consumer preferences, accessibility, and equity in charging infrastructure, also shape the demand for EVs.
According to current research (Van Fan, 2018), the transport sector is the miscreant of committing 27% of global greenhouse gas emissions. To reduce the use of fossil fuel, the policymakers of several countries are leaning towards the use of electric vehicles, and their improved performance, hassle-free, and less maintenance cost also gains public acceptance with a sharp positive slope.
The placement of charging stations in urban areas is a crucial and costly issue in accommodating more electric vehicles (EVs) and reducing fossil fuel consumption. It is essential to ensure a sufficient number of charging stations in the transportation network to support mass access. Improper placement can result in financial losses for both vehicle and charging station owners. Demand plays a significant role in determining the optimal locations for charging stations, with high-demand areas including offices, malls, restaurants, and places with religious or tourist attractions. Additionally, the need for immediate charging for vehicles on the road and areas with heavy traffic flow further impacts demand considerations.
The Indian government has implemented policies and initiatives to support the establishment of charging stations for electric vehicles (EVs). These policies aim to address range anxiety, promote convenient access to charging facilities, and incentivize EV adoption. Financial incentives, subsidies, and tax benefits have been introduced to attract private investments and encourage stakeholders to participate in charging infrastructure development. Demand plays a crucial role in determining the placement of charging stations, with high-demand areas including offices, malls, restaurants, tourist attractions, and locations with heavy traffic flow.
Several factors related to infrastructure must be in consideration while setting up a charging station. The area required for establishing a charging station is inversely proportional to the budget constraints. From general convention, the cost of land is high in a developed area like a tourist place, an official area, an area with a dense population, or having more infrastructure setup. Thus to accommodate more vehicles for charging, the station must be equipped with more charging points or must be accompanied by a lengthy waiting queue. So there is a trade-off between area and budget constraints.
Placing charging stations in locations where there is no proper road connectivity to surrounding areas, placing them without considering traffic issues in that area, no proper queue length planning, and not satisfying electric demand in that grid leads to financial loss to charging station owners.