Project 2-2

Project 2-2: A Data-Driven and Equitable Solution to Address Electric Vehicle Charging Needs in Rural and Underserved Communities

Exhibit D - Research Project Requirement: PDF Link

Principal Investigator: Xu Zhang (University of Kentucky)

Other Investigators: Chris Cherry (UTK); Steven Jones (UA); Hieu T Nguyen (NCAT); Xinwu Qian (UA)

Project Partners: North Carolina A&T State University (NCAT), University of Alabama (UA), University of Kentucky (UKY), University of Tennessee (UTK)

Is any participating institution a Minority Institution? Yes — North Carolina A&T State University

Research Project Funding: Year 1: 274,617 (Federal: $156,788; Non-Federal: $117,829)

Project Status: Active

Project Start and End Date: 08/01/2023 to 07/31/2026

Project Summary: The project aims to address the lag in electric vehicle (EV) adoption in rural and underserved communities relative to urban areas. It will focus on overcoming the main barrier of range anxiety by developing a data-driven framework consisting of EV demand forecasting, charging network optimization, and routing strategies for public charging stations. By analyzing local demographic and socioeconomic data, vehicle ownership, road networks, driving patterns, and other relevant factors, the project will provide insights into EV demand estimation, optimal deployment of charging infrastructure, and effective EV routing in rural areas.