Strategy to facilitate EV infrastructure on local level

Abstract

The amount of electric vehicles is increasing due to measures taken by governments in order to make a, for sustainability, desired switch from the embedded system of combustion vehicles. A barrier for the market adaptation of electric vehicles is the availability of a charging infrastructure. In the Netherlands municipalities are responsible for the facilitation of charging places in public space. This thesis identifies strategies municipalities could take to facilitate and/or stimulate a charging infrastructure, using expectations about three different uncertainties: the future demand for a charging infrastructure, technological progress in charging infrastructure and the preferences of municipalities. A literature study identified fast charging and inductive charging as promising technologies. An analytical model based on an energy balance enabled predictions for the expected demand for charging places in 2020 and 2025, using multiple scenarios. A survey among municipalities identified their preferences towards facilitation and stimulation strategy alternatives. Municipalities are advised to cooperate on a regional level in for example a concession model. The future demand for a charging infrastructure differs between different types of neighbourhoods. A different facilitating role is needed from the municipality in these different types of neighbourhoods. In commercial and working neighbourhoods licenses to commercial companies could be enough. In high- and low-income residential neighbourhoods a more active facilitating role is needed. Rapid developments in charging capabilities and methods require a limited scope and active monitoring of developments. Changes imposed by mainly European policymakers require a similar monitoring. A framework to deal with these uncertainties is developed as part of this thesis.