A Data-Driven and Equitable Solution to Address Electric Vehicle Charging Needs in Rural and Underserved Communities

The project aims to address the lag in electric vehicle (EV) adoption in rural and underserved communities compared to urban areas. It focuses on overcoming the main barrier of "range anxiety" by developing a data-driven framework consisting of three main components: EV demand forecasting, charging network optimization, and routing strategies for public charging stations. By analyzing local demographic and socioeconomic data, vehicle ownership, road networks, driving patterns, and other relevant factors, the project will provide insights into EV demand estimation, optimal deployment of charging infrastructure, and effective EV routing in rural areas. The project emphasizes equity to ensure underserved groups have equitable access to EV infrastructure. Over the course of three years, the project will employ data science, statistical modeling, machine learning techniques, graph theory, and optimization methodologies to achieve its objectives.

• Record URL:
  https://www.cr2c2.com/research/major-research-initiatives/mri-2/project-2-2

Language

• English

Project

• Status: Active
• Funding: $274,617
• Contract Numbers:

  69A3552348304

• Sponsor Organizations:

  Office of the Assistant Secretary for Research and Technology

  University Transportation Centers Program
  Department of Transportation
  Washington, DC  United States  20590

  Kentucky Transportation Cabinet

  200 Mero Street
  Frankfort, KY  United States  40622
• Managing Organizations:

  Center for Regional and Rural Connected Communities

  North Carolina A&T State University
  Greensboro, NC  United States  27411

  University of Kentucky, Lexington

  Lexington, KY  United States  40506-0281
• Project Managers:

  Zhang, Xu

• Performing Organizations:

  North Carolina A&T State University

  1601 E. Market Street
  Greensboro, NC  United States  27411

  University of Alabama, Huntsville

  Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering
  Huntsville, AL  United States  35899

  University of Kentucky, Lexington

  Lexington, KY  United States  40506-0281

  University of Tennessee, Knoxville

  Knoxville, TN  United States 
• Principal Investigators:

  Cherry, Christopher

  Jones, Steven

  Nguyen, Hieu

  Qian, Xinwu

  Zhang, Xu

• Start Date: 20230801
• Expected Completion Date: 20260731
• Actual Completion Date: 0
• USDOT Program: University Transportation Centers Program

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Demand; Electric vehicle charging; Electric vehicles; Equity; Forecasting; Routing; Rural areas; Vehicle range
• Subject Areas: Energy; Highways; Planning and Forecasting; Vehicles and Equipment;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01892250
• Record Type: Research project
• Source Agency: Center for Regional and Rural Connected Communities
• Contract Numbers: 69A3552348304
• Files: UTC, RIP
• Created Date: Sep 1 2023 4:45PM