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Accelerating urban road transportation electrification: planning, technology, economic and implementation factors in converting gas stations into fast charging stations

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Abstract

The charger availability is a key enabler to accelerate the road transportation electrification process. This paper describes challenges to filling the charger availability gap to accelerate the transition of light duty vehicles to electrification. These vehicles, used for personal and shared mobility and light freight services, account for about one-third of urban area greenhouse emissions. Following an introduction to national level charging needs, subjects covered include charger technology, charger needs in urban areas, market attributes and role of government, market-responsive conversion of highly accessible gas stations to direct current fast charger (DCFC) sites in urban travel corridors, grid impacts, vehicle-to-grid, and battery degradation. Research reported here suggests that favourable public policies, regulations, and financial incentives are assisting the initial phase of accelerating the development of DCFC infrastructure. Progress made in the early development phase is expected to lead to market-responsive conversion to electrification. Advanced methodology-based business model illustrated for conversion of highly accessible gas stations for use by a niche market electric vehicle owners in need of a fast charge in a travel corridor shows favourable results for the investor as well as the customer. The investor can expect to receive the minimum acceptable rate of return and cost to user on per km basis compares favourably with a gasoline-engine vehicle. The electricity grid impacts of DCFC stations, even under the worst scenario (when all stations are occupied), can be managed by the local utilities, provided that upgrades are phased in parallel with DCFC station development over time.

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Acknowledgements

The authors sincerely acknowledge the contribution of data and EMME files by the City of Ottawa (Canada) and internal research funds from Carleton University (Ottawa). The views expressed are those of the authors.

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  1. Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Carleton University, Ottawa, Canada

    Junshen Feng & Ata M. Khan

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  1. Junshen Feng
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Feng, J., Khan, A.M. Accelerating urban road transportation electrification: planning, technology, economic and implementation factors in converting gas stations into fast charging stations. Energy Syst (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12667-023-00638-4

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