Inequitable Access to EV Charging Infrastructure

TL;DR

This study examines the unequal distribution of EV charging stations in NYC, revealing disparities against disadvantaged neighborhoods and highlighting the need for equitable infrastructure policies.

Contribution

It provides an empirical analysis of socio-demographic disparities in EV charging infrastructure distribution in NYC, emphasizing the importance of equity in policy planning.

Findings

Charging stations are not correlated with population density.

Disparities exist against low-income and Black neighborhoods.

Charging stations are positively correlated with highways.

Abstract

Access to and affordability of electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure are the two prominent barriers for EV adoption. While major efforts are underway in the United States to roll-out public EV charging infrastructure, persistent social disparities in EV adoption call for interventions. In this paper, we analyze the existing EV charging infrastructure across New York City (NYC) to identify such socio-demographic and transportation features that correlate with the current distribution of EV charging stations. Our results demonstrate that population density is not correlated with the density of EV chargers, hindering New York's EV adoption and decarbonization goals. On the contrary, the distribution of EV charging stations is heavily skewed against low-income, Black-identifying, and disinvested neighborhoods in NYC, however, positively correlated to presence of highways in a zip code. The results underscore the need for policy frameworks that incorporate equity and justice in the roll-out of EV charging infrastructure.