Proposal: Modelling the Need for Additional Charging Stations in the

Transition to EVs
Introduction:
The transition to electric vehicles (EVs) is a significant development in the automotive industry
and presents both challenges and opportunities for companies like EnergyAustralia. On one
hand, the increasing adoption of EVs necessitates the development of a robust and accessible
charging infrastructure to support the growing number of electric vehicles on the road. On the
other hand, this transition opens up new avenues for EnergyAustralia to provide charging
solutions and contribute to the sustainability goals of the community.
The objective of the proposed internship is to model the impact of EV chargers installed at
petrol stations and assess whether EnergyAustralia needs to deploy additional away charging
stations. This objective can be achieved through a comprehensive analysis of data and a
systematic methodology. By understanding the implications of installing EV chargers at petrol
stations and evaluating the need for additional charging infrastructure, EnergyAustralia can
make informed decisions regarding the strategic deployment of EV charging solutions.
Data Requirements:
To accurately model the need for additional charging stations, the following data sets will be
required:
a) Analysis of Petrol Station Data: Gather comprehensive information regarding the precise
locations and distribution of existing petrol stations across the NEM states. This encompasses
data on the quantity of petrol stations, their geographical coverage, and the potential availability
of space for installing electric vehicle (EV) chargers. This task can be accomplished by
leveraging publicly accessible databases or official government records that may contain
valuable information about petrol station locations and associated characteristics, such as the
National Petroleum Register, Google Maps, and MotorMouth.
b) EV Charger Data: Collect data on the current distribution of EV chargers, including both
on-site chargers at petrol stations and existing away charging stations. This data should include
the number of chargers, their capacity, charging speed, and geographical distribution.
Plugshare is a good open-source website that provides the location of worldwide charging
stations.
c) EV Adoption Data: Gather data on the projected growth and adoption rates of EVs in the
NEM states. This information will help estimate the future demand for charging infrastructure.
These data can be collected from research academic studies along with data from electrical
vehicle manufacturers and EV charging infrastructure providers.
d) Transport and Commuting Patterns: Analyze data on transportation patterns, commuting
distances, and charging requirements to understand EV charging needs in different areas. This
data can be obtained from transportation surveys, census data, or relevant government sources.
Methodology:
To address the problem statement, the following methodology could be employed:
a) Demand Modeling: Utilize EV adoption data, transportation patterns, and projections to
estimate the future demand for EV charging in different regions. This will involve assessing
factors such as population density, commuting patterns, and the expected growth rate of EV
adoption.
b) Charging Infrastructure Analysis: Model the impact of petrol station installations of EV
chargers on the overall charging network. Analyze the coverage, capacity, and utilization of
these charging stations to understand the extent to which they meet the charging demands of
EV owners.
c) Gap Analysis: Compare the estimated charging demand with the existing charging
infrastructure, including both petrol station chargers and away charging stations. Identify
regions or areas where there might be a gap between demand and supply, indicating the need
for additional away charging stations.
d) Distribution and Fast Charger Requirements: If the modelling indicates a need for more
away charging stations, develop a methodology to determine their distribution. Consider
factors such as population centers, transportation corridors, and areas with limited existing
charging infrastructure. Additionally, estimate the number of fast chargers required based on
the anticipated charging demand and EV adoption projections.
Assumptions:
In conducting the modelling and analysis, the following assumptions will be made:
a) Availability of Data: It is assumed that the necessary data, including EV adoption rates,
transportation patterns, and charging infrastructure information, is available or can be obtained
through relevant sources.
b) Charging Behavior: The modelling assumes certain charging behavior patterns, such as
average charging times and charging frequency, based on industry standards and research.
c) Future EV Adoption: The projections for future EV adoption rates and growth are based on
available data and industry forecasts.
Deliverables:
The proposed deliverables for this project include:
a) A comprehensive report detailing the methodology, data analysis, and modeling results.
b) Visualizations and maps depicting the distribution of charging infrastructure and identified
gaps.
c) Recommendations for the deployment of additional away charging stations, including their
distribution and the number of fast chargers required.
By conducting this analysis, EnergyAustralia will gain insights into the need for additional
charging infrastructure and can make informed decisions regarding the deployment of away
charging stations in the NEM states.
Timetable:
Weeks 1-2: Project Familiarization and Data Collection
• The initial weeks will be about understanding the project scope, objectives, and
deliverables.
• Familiarize yourself with the available data sources and begin collecting the required
data, such as petrol station data, EV adoption data, transportation data, and charging
infrastructure data.
Weeks 3-4: Data Analysis and Preparation
• Clean and preprocess the collected data to ensure its quality and suitability for analysis.
• Prepare the data for modeling and analysis by organizing it into a structured format and
addressing any missing values or outliers.
Weeks 5-6: Modeling the Impact of EV Chargers at Petrol Stations
• Develop a model to assess the impact of EV chargers installed at petrol stations.
• Utilize the collected petrol station data, EV adoption data, and other relevant variables
to simulate and estimate the charging demand and coverage provided by the petrol
station chargers.
• Perform sensitivity analyses by considering different scenarios and assumptions to
understand the implications of various factors on the need for additional charging
infrastructure.
• I was thinking of choosing one of these two modelling approaches or probably both:
1- Statistical Modeling: Use statistical techniques such as regression analysis to model the
relationship between variables and estimate the impact of EV chargers on charging
demand. In this approach a regression model will be created and it will incorporate
petrol station data, EV adoption data, and transportation data as independent variables.
2- Optimization Modeling: Develop an optimization model that considers multiple factors,
such as EV adoption projections, charging demand, and existing charging
infrastructure. This model will result in the optimal future distribution of charging
station within the NEM region.
Weeks 7-8: Evaluation of Additional Charging Infrastructure
• Analyze the EV adoption data and assess the future growth trajectory of electric
vehicles in the NEM states.
• Evaluate the existing charging infrastructure's capacity and coverage to determine if it
can meet the projected charging demand.
• Identify areas where additional away charging stations may be necessary based on
factors such as population density, travel patterns, and transportation trends.
• Durting this phase, the same model developed previously will be implemented but with
the inclusion of additional inputs and constraints.
Weeks 9-10: Distribution and Fast Charger Requirements
• Utilize transportation data and EV adoption projections to identify high-traffic areas
and popular destinations that require additional charging infrastructure.
 • Use the model developed to determine the optimal distribution of charging stations,
considering factors such as distance, accessibility, and charging demand.
• Estimate the number of fast chargers required to supply the charging needs of EV users
in different locations.
Weeks 11-12: Final Analysis, Report Writing, and Presentation
• Consolidate and analyze the findings from the previous weeks' work.
• Prepare a comprehensive report summarizing the methodology, data analysis, and
conclusions of the project.
• Create visualizations and present the results in a clear and concise manner.
• Deliver a final presentation to EnergyAustralia and University of Melbourne,
highlighting the key findings, recommendations, and potential next steps.
It's important to note that the timeline provided is a general suggestion, and the specific
duration for each task may vary based on the complexity of the project and the availability of
data. It's always a good practice to have regular check-ins and discussions with your supervisor
or mentor at EnergyAustralia to ensure alignment and make adjustments to the work plan as
needed.
Final notes:
A lot of questions arise from my side when trying to find the most suitable approach to solve
this problem:
I assume the solution should be general to any area in the NEM, but when it is applied it will
be applied to a specific region once at a time depending on the specific data in that region. I
formulated my approached based on a model that can be accordingly adapted to suit a specific
region in the NEM.
We need to include in the data analysis customers’ behaviour and preference. In other words,
people might prefer charging their cars while shopping in a centre, rather than keeping their
cars at a petrol station for a long period of time and having to wait for the charging to be done.