A Systematic Approach to Understanding Barriers to Successful EVSE Projects

• In Event: System-Level Issues with Grid, DER, and Vehicle Technologies

Abstract

There has been a recent increase in the building of public electric vehicle supply equipment (EVSE) for both Level 2 charging (L2) and direct current fast charging (DCFC) stations.  While there are a significant number of projects that have been completed successfully, there have nonetheless been others that have encountered strong headwinds that affected the outcome of the project.  These outcomes have ranged from projects that have been over budget, behind schedule, or scaled down from their initial plans, through projects that have been subject to indefinite delays or outright cancellation.  Stakeholders have reported that issues with EVSE rollout are frequently not related to the availability of funding; they are related to the difficulties with planning, permitting, and a general learning curve associated with developing a large-scale new technology.  This disconnect from expected outcomes to actual outcomes represents a set of barriers that are currently understudied in the current literature surrounding EVSE projects.  This project seeks to begin addressing this gap by developing a system of classifying barriers reported by EVSE project stakeholders.  These barrier classifications were developed based on more than 60 interviews that were conducted with EVSE project stakeholders, including authorities having jurisdiction (AHJs), installers and contractors, electric utilities, and site owners.  By developing new ways to consider barriers to EVSE projects, we hope to encourage further study into how to control and lower these barriers to ensure that EVSE projects can continue to be built successfully, improving the nation’s overall access to refueling infrastructure.

Authors

• Peter Keene Benoliel, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory
  Presenting Author

• Margaret Taylor, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory
  Non-Presenting Co-Author