This project will develop simulation software to help WSDOT staff prioritize investments in DC fast charger (DCFC) infrastructure for plug-in electric vehicles (PEV). Electric vehicle registrations in Washington state increased by 38 percent between June 2015 and June 2016, after having increased by 34 percent in the preceding year. To meet the needs of these vehicles and achieve the Governor’s goal of 50,000 PEVs by 2020, Washington is anticipating considerable investment in DCFC infrastructure over the next several years. However, given that funding is limited and DCFC stations are expensive, public investments must be made where they will have the most impact on EV adoption and travel. Researchers will develop a model to allow engineers to specify the locations and characteristics (for example, number of plugs, charging power) of charging stations along Washington’s highway network and then calculate key performance indicators for the resulting charging network. The indicators may include technical performance such as utilization rate or vehicles served per day, cost effectiveness such as vehicles served per public dollar invested, environmental sustainability, and equity. The model will provide WSDOT with useful results in the near term while offering enough flexibility to improve as the market grows and the behavior of EV owners becomes better understood.
Principal Investigator: Don MacKenzie, Civil and Environmental Engineering, UW
Sponsor: WSDOT
WSDOT Technical Contact: Tonia Buell
WSDOT Project Manager: Doug Brodin
Scheduled completion: June 2019