California Statewide Charging Assessment Model for Plug-in Electric Vehicles: Learning from Statewide Travel Surveys

Electric vehicle travel and charging was simulated using gasoline vehicle travel information from approximately 15,000 households in the CalTrans 2001 California Statewide Travel Survey. Ranges of 60, 80, and 100 miles were simulated to investigate the travel that could not be completed with home charging alone. Different types of chargers including workplace level 1 and level 2 chargers, level 2 public chargers, and DC quick chargers were then posited to determine the effect of each charging type on electric vehicle miles traveled (eVMT). If all statewide vehicle were 80 mile range battery electric vehicle (BEVs) and began the day with a full charge, 71% of miles (95% of home-based tours) are possible with home charging alone. Travel that requires some charging accounts for a corresponding 29% of miles (5% of tours). Workplace charging can enable about 7% more eVMT, public level 2 at stops greater than 1.5 hours could provide an additional 4% of eVMT, and quick charging could provide an additional 12% of eVMT. 6% of eVMT (0.6% of tours) would be difficult to complete in an 80 mile range BEV. 200 DC fast locations could provide an initial network to serve most Californians with the number of chargers growing past 200 to handle congestion at charging areas. Scenarios for plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) show that for a 30 mile range PHEV, 61% of miles could be completed with home charging alone.