Location of electric vehicle charging stations in inter-andean corridors considering road altitude and nearby infrastructure

Abstract

The placement of electric vehicle charging stations is typically accomplished using mathematical optimization methods or by calculating average distances. However, this design approach is not suitable for mountainous roads in the Andes Mountain range, given that steep gradients pose both advantages and disadvantages for electric vehicles. This study examines the placement of charging stations along five Andean corridors connecting the cities of La Troncal, Macas, Santa Isabel, Loja, and Cañar to the city of Cuenca. This document presents a novel methodology that can be used to design charging corridors by considering parameters such as state of charge (SOC) per second and SOC per road altitude, among others. By applying this methodology, our study successfully selects appropriate charging station locations to serve both outbound and return journeys on roads with significant gradients. The current study represents an initial approach to analyzing the autonomy of electric vehicles on high-altitude roads, specifically considering the contribution of regenerative braking, for the placement of charging stations.