To spark the roll out of EV Research on the parts of municipal strategies that slow down the placement of chargers for electric vehicles

Abstract

The exhaustive nature of fossil fuels and environmental concerns associated with greenhouse gases are the major causes of the paradigm shift from conventional vehicles to electric vehicles (EVs). Dutch cities embrace electric mobility as a way to reduce CO2 emissions and additional pollutions from road traffic (such as hydrocarbons and nitrogen oxides), lowering noise levels within their city limits, thereby increasing the quality of life for their inhabitants. This type of new mobility requires changes in the current infrastructure, especially public chargers, as not every EV owner has an own driveway to place one. The lead time of implementation of this public charging infrastructure varies per municipality, creating differences between them in realizing their individual and national sustainability goals. This research explores the factors that are of influence on the lead time for charger placement, seeks to explain their existence and provides recommendations for policymakers to set up an effective charger placement strategy, which is required by all Dutch municipalities by the end of 2020. It has done so by (i) data analysis on lead time data for charger placement in a frontrunning e-mobility concession in the Netherlands, (ii) expert interviews in the field of e-mobility and (iii) multiple case studies at Dutch municipalities at which the found variables were identified and their existence analyzed along the Multiple Streams Framework. Experts came from frontrunning e-mobility interest groups such as Stichting ElaadNL and NKL. Participating municipalities in the case studies were selected on their lead time for charger implementation, their view on e-mobility and their approaches taken to reduce this lead time. Results of this research showed that political support from the municipal board is the most influencing variable on the lead time for charger placement. This support leads to additional resources such as funding, manpower and knowledge which can be used to create an optimal placement strategy for a municipality, although this support provides no guarantee for a short lead time when used incorrectly. Additionally, the use of projection data to create a so-called ‘planning map’ approach can cause a reduction in lead time when used in the right way. The legal process (incl. traffic ordinance and objections) are causing the biggest delays in the implementation process. Finally, while parking pressure is often an argument from residents to object against a charger, municipalities often do not consider this in their decision for charger placement, reducing lead time in the process.