Abstract
While modelling analyses are used to inform electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure rollout strategies, few models are calibrated for high-density cities and still fewer incorporate behavioral insights. This study examined the relationship between public charger availability and user charge anxiety in high-density cities. We calibrated emobpy, a tool that generates EV profiles from mobility statistics and customizable assumptions, to Singapore’s context. Behavioral insights were additionally incorporated into our model: Public charger availability was varied by altering both home charger supply and the prevalence of charger hogging behaviors. Model-generated profiles were also assigned unique psychological safety buffers, to reflect heterogenous user-battery interactions. Four scenarios, following a 2-by-2 experimental matrix comprising high or low charger supply and high or low charger hogging, were run with 50 profiles each. Scenario outcomes were evaluated against levels of charge anxiety, the concern users experience when a vehicle’s battery state-of-charge falls below their safety buffers. While users in all scenarios were at minimal risk of running out of battery charge, those in the scenario with high charger hogging and low charger supply reported higher charge anxiety levels than those in other scenarios. High charger supply and low charger hogging behaviors were both associated with lower incidences of charge anxiety. Reducing the prevalence of charger hogging was observed to offset the effects of low charger supply. Overall, our findings confirm that user behaviors can substantially affect charger availability in high-density cities. Incorporating behavioral insights to EV charging network models may produce more accurate results and facilitate sound policy decisions.