Events

Professor Jie Zhang
Dean’s Professor of Marketing
Harvey Sanders Fellow of Retail Management
Robert H. Smith School of Business
University of Maryland

ABSTRACT

Lack of public charging stations (PCSs) is a key barrier to electric vehicle (EV) adoption. This paper examines how PCS accessibility influences EV demand and how effects vary by various factors. The authors analyze 13 years of ZIP Code Tabulation Area (ZCTA)-level data from Oregon and account for staggered timing and endogenous PCS accessibility. Results show that PCS access substantially boosts EV demand, with stronger effects for battery EVs (BEVs) than plug-in hybrids, in closer distances, and over time. Level 3 chargers produce the largest impacts, particularly for BEVs, while Levels 1 and 2 chargers generate meaningful gains. Retail sites, multi-unit dwellings, and stand-alone commercial charging stations are the most effective PCS location types in shorter distances, and the latter also shows strong impact in farther distances. Effects of PCS access are largest in ZCTAs with higher percentage of multifamily housing and upper-middle household incomes. Mechanism tests suggest that PCS access boosts EV demand primarily by addressing lack of at-home chargers, while mitigating range anxiety also plays a role. Analysis using Washington State data confirms main findings and indicates that PCS access increases EV demand through substituting purchases of internal combustion engine vehicles. This research offers actionable insights into how to prioritize PCS investments and policy incentives to boost EV demand.