From user to operator: Rationalizing the charging infrastructure deployment. A case study of Berlin

The urge to develop greener transportation necessitates a shift from internal combustion engine vehicles to electric vehicles (EVs). Ensuring user acceptance of EVs through adequate charging infrastructure is crucial for this transition. We hypothesize that a user-oriented, time and space-coherent deployment of charging stations can reduce range anxiety and enhance EV adoption. We present a new multi-criteria deployment model and apply it through a MATSim multi-agent simulation to the Berlin region, observing the effects of different user behaviors on the charging infrastructure deployment. Results indicate that slow chargers are more cost-efficient and that residential charging is vital for user acceptance of EVs. The study concludes that a well-planned deployment schedule significantly reduces range anxiety and supports a coherent charging infrastructure helping EV democratization. •Democratization of electric vehicles requires an adapted deployment of charging infrastructure.•Slow charging stations are the most cost-efficient stations to deploy.•Fast charging stations should be reserved for highways and emergencies.•Residential charging is key to EV acceptability.