Extreme Weather, Charging Rate and Moderating Effect of Station Shelters

As green and efficient means of transportation, new-energy vehicles are increasingly favored. This rapid growth necessitates greater focus on the development and operation of charging infrastructure. However, the expansion of charging infrastructure faces multiple challenges. There is a mismatch between high-cost construction, low utilization rate, expanding market size, and increasing charging demand. Therefore, it is significant to understand the factors influencing the utilization of public charging stations.

Furthermore, recent record-breaking heatwaves and extreme precipitation in many cities have strained water and power supplies, impacted food security, livelihoods, travel behavior, and public health. These extreme weather events also pose challenges for urban infrastructure operation. However, existing charging station studies and planning seldom consider this aspect. Thus, there is an urgent need to consider the impact of extreme weather and adopt moderating strategies when promoting the construction and management of public charging stations.

This study evaluates the utilization of public charging stations under extreme weather conditions using weather data and charging record big data, focusing on Shenzhen, a pioneering city in promoting vehicle electrification and renowned for its high density of public charging stations. Extreme precipitation has a more significant negative impact on fast charging station utilization. Additionally, we explore the moderating effect of station design, with a particular emphasis on the role of shelter. We find a correlation between built environment, socio-economic context, and the installation of station shelters. The moderating effect of shelters is found to be more significant for fast charging stations, and the impact differs between weekdays and weekends. Our research provides systematic and empirical exploration from a station perspective, offering evidence for the planning, operation, and management of charging infrastructure in the context of climate change. It further promotes the development of the new-energy market.