The Optimal Deployment of Recharging Stations for Electric Vehicles Based on Mobility Flows and Electric Grid Specifications

With the increasing interest in using electric vehicles (EVs) in future transportation systems, the need for deploying fast charging infrastructures becomes essential. In order to fulfil this need, it is important to anticipate EV future charging demands and requirements, and optimize their deployment. In this paper, we develop an optimization model to solve the problem of positioning fast-charging stations for EVs. The proposed model takes into account the different mobility flows and recharging demands as well as the constraints imposed by the available electric grid. In addition, the model considers the availability of alternative energy sources (i.e. photo-voltaic). For this purpose, we provide a mathematical formulation for the considered problem aiming at maximizing the covered recharging demand while respecting investment budget limits and the available capacities provided by the electric grid. Through a case study on Paris-Saclay area, we obtain the optimal locations for deploying EV charging stations as well as the number of chargers that need to be installed at each charging station. Results also highlight the benefits of integrating locally-produced photo-voltaic energy on EV recharging service.