A Novel Model to Predict Electric Vehicle Rapid Charging Deployment on the UK Motorway Network

Recent transformations from internal combustion engines (ICE) to electric vehicles (EVs) are challenged by limited the driving range per charge, thereby requiring the improvement or substantial deployment of rapid charging infrastructure to stimulate sufficient confidence in EV drivers. This study aims to establish the necessary level of EV motorway service station infrastructure for the United Kingdom (UK) based market. The investigation is founded on increasing the appropriate rapid charger availability and shorter charging times. EV charging patterns are determined, focusing on two Volkswagen iD3 EV models by measuring power curves across field-based rapid chargers at one-minute intervals. Datasets are analysed throughout rapid charging field tests. Additionally, variance synthesis is applied to establish variables within this study's assessment for rapid charger capacity requirements in the UK. The operational performance for the utilised rapid chargers is correspondingly recorded, whilst the EV range is calculated at 3 miles per kWh, revealing a mean power delivery rate of just 27 kW per hour using a 50 kW rapid charger. Time-of-day charging sessions are used to generate data that is then amalgamated into our previous study data, confirming that rapid charging points on UK motorways are used primarily for EV journey range extension. If fully utilised for an entire 24h period, 434 chargers (with a variance consolidation number of 81) are required to service the UK-based motorway EV user base. Moreover, this study establishes that simply replacing current fuel pumps with individual rapid chargers on a like-for-like basis reduces availability and support for novel and existing users and may impact short-term grid availability.