Selection of charging sites for electric vehicles in the Republic of Korea based on fuzzy analytic hierarchy process

Korean demand survey indicates that the number of stations (1070) that the government currently plans to install does not satisfy the demand (1371) for charging stations. Therefore, this study aims to identify the planned 1070 stations’ proper locations across the nation and select the same number out of 1371 points by deciding the optimal number and locations required by the Korean government to implement their strategy. This strategy requires a proposed formula that estimates the deficit of each of the three groups in South Korea. In this study, the deficit is defined as the maximum number of electric charging stations that can be installed in a group. Here, the charging infrastructure location index (CILI), a combination of the charging demand ability indicator ( CDI ), user convenience indicator (UCI), and Ease of installation indicator (EI), was used, followed by the selection of charging points with higher values. The fuzzy analytic hierarchy process (AHP) and the survey results were applied to calculate each indicator’s weight. After analysis, the results show that a proper charging station location should include a high electric vehicle penetration rate, solid charging infrastructures secured in a given area, high road network density, and high traffic volumes in city centers. However, some cities are not considered proper sites for charging stations. For example, Sejong-si is currently under development, and Incheon-si has islands and coastal areas that cover half of its total surface area. Ulsan-si also shows unfavorable conditions for charging stations because the city, known for manufacturing automobiles, has low potential demand; its vehicle market is saturated with cars powered by coal-based fuel, and its city centers are developed around basins and coastal areas that increase flood risks. These results of this study were used to select charging station sites after considering numerous factors, ranging from installation to potential demand; increased electric vehicle use is expected when the stations are installed at the proposed locations.