Equitable distribution of electric vehicle charging infrastructure: A systematic review

This study conducts a systematic review of 44 articles to evaluate the equitable distribution of electric vehicle charging infrastructure in the United States. It addresses three questions: (1) How is the electric vehicle charging infrastructure currently distributed across the United States? (2) How accessible and affordable are electric vehicles to the general public? (3) How equitably are electric vehicle rebates allocated? This inquiry is driven by projections that the U.S. will need 28 million private and 1.2 million public chargers by 2030 to support the expanding electric vehicle market. Three findings are of particular importance. First, geographic and socioeconomic disparities characterize the distribution of electric vehicle charging stations. Lower-income areas and communities predominantly inhabited by racial minorities have markedly less access to charging infrastructure compared to white-majority areas. Second, the economic burden of installing home chargers is not feasible for many living in multi-family housing or renting, which exacerbates the existing inequities in electric vehicle adoption. Third, the imbalance in rebate distribution not only perpetuates the socioeconomic disparities but also contradicts the goals set by justice initiatives that aim to ensure 40 % of benefits from federal investments target historically underserved communities. The findings underscore the need for targeted policy interventions that prioritize the expansion of electric vehicle charging infrastructure into underserved areas. Implementing a comprehensive approach to infrastructure planning and incentive allocation is crucial for promoting environmental sustainability and achieving the broader United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. This supports a fair transition toward widespread electric vehicle adoption.