A spatial planning perspective on the global deployment of public electric vehicle charging stations
- 1Department of Land Surveying and Geospatial Science, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hung Hom, Kowloon, Hong Kong, China; PolyU-Farizon Transport and Energy Joint Lab, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hung Hom, Kowloon, Hong Kong, China
- 2Department of Land Surveying and Geospatial Science, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hung Hom, Kowloon, Hong Kong, China; Centre for Industrial Management/Traffic and Infrastructure, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
- 3International Business School, Zhejiang University, Zhejiang 314400, China; Cambridge Centre for Economic and Public Policy, Department of Land Economy, University of Cambridge, 19 Silver Street, Cambridge CB3 9EP, UK
Abstract
As electric vehicle (EV) adoption accelerates globally, understanding the global public EV charging landscape is becoming increasingly critical. This study investigates the spatial distribution of public EV charging stations (EVCSs) worldwide using a high-quality, global-scale, open-access dataset comprising over 450,000 EVCSs. Comparative analysis across China, the United States (US), and Europe reveals marked regional disparities in deployment patterns. In many European cities, EVCSs are more strongly concentrated in higher-density areas, whereas those in many Chinese and US cities are more often located in lower-density neighborhoods and in areas where housing prices are close to the citywide average. In Chinese cities, EVCSs are also more likely to be located in areas with less diverse surrounding amenities. In terms of accessibility, EVCSs in China and Europe are more frequently associated with lower road network density. These findings highlight deployment gaps and provide evidence to support more accessible and equitable EVCS planning globally. Science for society: The global transition to electric vehicles (EVs) is a key strategy for decarbonizing the transportation sector and advancing urban sustainability. The provision and effective deployment of charging infrastructure are critical to the success of this transition. However, our understanding of how public EV charging stations (EVCSs) are distributed globally remains limited. In this study, we conduct a global-scale assessment of the relationships between EVCS deployment and essential urban elements, including population, housing prices, activity facilities, and road networks, using an open-access dataset containing more than 450,000 EVCSs worldwide. By comparing EVCS deployment patterns across China, the United States (US), and Europe, we identify both common challenges and substantial regional disparities in where EVCSs are located and who can access them, revealing potential accessibility and equity concerns. Our findings show that across all the three study areas, charging facilities are more heavily concentrated in economically developed city clusters, while less-developed regions remain comparatively underserved. The cross-regional comparison further highlights distinct deployment gaps in each study area. Specifically, in many Chinese and US cities, EVCSs are less available in higher-density neighborhoods and in areas with lower housing prices. In Chinese cities, EVCSs are also more likely to be insufficient in areas with a greater diversity of surrounding activity facilities. In both Chinese and European cities, EVCS accessibility through the road network tends to be comparatively lower. These findings provide actionable insights for policymakers and planners seeking to improve charging infrastructure deployment and promote a more inclusive transition to electric mobility across diverse regions and communities.
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BibTeX
@article{yang2026spatial,
title = {{A spatial planning perspective on the global deployment of public electric vehicle charging stations}},
author = {Xiong Yang and Zhenhan Peng and Chengxiang Zhuge and Justin Hayse Chiwing G. Tang and Ruichen Ma and Binru Wei and Wenzhong Shi},
journal = {Cell Reports Sustainability},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.1016/j.crsus.2026.100786},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1016/j.crsus.2026.100786},
note = {CC BY},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - A spatial planning perspective on the global deployment of public electric vehicle charging stations
AU - Xiong Yang
AU - Zhenhan Peng
AU - Chengxiang Zhuge
AU - Justin Hayse Chiwing G. Tang
AU - Ruichen Ma
AU - Binru Wei
AU - Wenzhong Shi
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/25
JO - Cell Reports Sustainability
DO - 10.1016/j.crsus.2026.100786
UR - https://doi.org/10.1016/j.crsus.2026.100786
AB - As electric vehicle (EV) adoption accelerates globally, understanding the global public EV charging landscape is becoming increasingly critical. This study investigates the spatial distribution of public EV charging stations (EVCSs) worldwide using a high-quality, global-scale, open-access dataset comprising over 450,000 EVCSs. Comparative analysis across China, the United States (US), and Europe reveals marked regional disparities in deployment patterns. In many European cities, EVCSs are more strongly concentrated in higher-density areas, whereas those in many Chinese and US cities are more often located in lower-density neighborhoods and in areas where housing prices are close to the citywide average. In Chinese cities, EVCSs are also more likely to be located in areas with less diverse surrounding amenities. In terms of accessibility, EVCSs in China and Europe are more frequently associated with lower road network density. These findings highlight deployment gaps and provide evidence to support more accessible and equitable EVCS planning globally. Science for society: The global transition to electric vehicles (EVs) is a key strategy for decarbonizing the transportation sector and advancing urban sustainability. The provision and effective deployment of charging infrastructure are critical to the success of this transition. However, our understanding of how public EV charging stations (EVCSs) are distributed globally remains limited. In this study, we conduct a global-scale assessment of the relationships between EVCS deployment and essential urban elements, including population, housing prices, activity facilities, and road networks, using an open-access dataset containing more than 450,000 EVCSs worldwide. By comparing EVCS deployment patterns across China, the United States (US), and Europe, we identify both common challenges and substantial regional disparities in where EVCSs are located and who can access them, revealing potential accessibility and equity concerns. Our findings show that across all the three study areas, charging facilities are more heavily concentrated in economically developed city clusters, while less-developed regions remain comparatively underserved. The cross-regional comparison further highlights distinct deployment gaps in each study area. Specifically, in many Chinese and US cities, EVCSs are less available in higher-density neighborhoods and in areas with lower housing prices. In Chinese cities, EVCSs are also more likely to be insufficient in areas with a greater diversity of surrounding activity facilities. In both Chinese and European cities, EVCS accessibility through the road network tends to be comparatively lower. These findings provide actionable insights for policymakers and planners seeking to improve charging infrastructure deployment and promote a more inclusive transition to electric mobility across diverse regions and communities.
SN - 2949-7906
ER -