2.1.

Challenges in the type, quality, efficiency and adaptability of charging facilities

There are numerous problems with the type, quality, efficiency, and adaptability of charging facilities. In order to achieve rapid profitability and return on investment, the predominant charging infrastructure consists of DC fast or high-power charging stations primarily located in expressway service areas, densely populated urban centers, and business districts. The number of DC fast charging piles is increasing while there is a shortage of AC slow charging piles, leading to a mismatch between the dominant type of charging infrastructure and the demand for diverse charging methods [2]. Therefore, it is essential to further enhance the development of electric vehicle charging facilities and incorporate diversified infrastructure to accommodate their varied needs. Some facilities suffer from quality issues that lead to frequent malfunctions and make the chargers unavailable. In addition, certain chargers have very slow speeds that require over 5 hours for a full charge. Furthermore, certain facilities may not be compatible with certain vehicle models or have excessively long waiting times for charging. These challenges often hinder the normal process of recharging for electric vehicle owners, resulting in a reduced use of these facilities [3].

2.2.

The concentrated distribution of charging facilities and the challenges of meeting charging demand in rural areas

The distribution of charging facilities is relatively concentrated, making it difficult to meet the demand for charging in rural areas. The infrastructure for charging electric vehicles primarily consists of public charging stations, bus charging facilities, and private car charging points. These are mainly located in high-demand areas for charging, such as city centers, highway service stations, popular destinations, highly populated communities, educational institutions, and urban-rural transition zones. In rural areas, the development of electric vehicle charging infrastructure lags behind due to a lack of corresponding facilities. Additionally, electric vehicles are limited by battery technology, resulting in a shorter travel distance compared to traditional fuel vehicles. Without adequate charging infrastructure, meeting transportation needs between urban and rural areas on a daily basis is challenging. Consequently, the adoption of electric vehicles in rural areas remains extremely low. The limited availability of charging facilities has significantly hindered the promotion and adoption of electric vehicles in rural areas, thereby impeding progress in energy conservation, emission reduction, and environmental protection efforts. Furthermore, even in urban centers, there exists an unequal distribution of charging infrastructure which fails to meet the demand for charging services. The situation in older urban or residential areas presents a relatively complex scenario, with crowded buildings and limited parking space. The installation of charging equipment in these areas requires overcoming challenges such as pile location, circuit aging, capacitor voltage safety, and other technical difficulties. Additionally, it is essential to consider the unreasonable occupation of space by fuel vehicles.

2.3.

Substantial investment and prolonged cycle with limited revenue

The construction of charging facilities requires a substantial investment and an extended cycle, but yields limited income [4]. The charging industry lacks a long-term accumulation of mature experience for reference due to being in its nascent stage. Substantial capital investment is required for research and development which leads to high prices of new charging facilities and increases the cost for operators. Charging facility operators mainly rely on income from service fees with minimal alternative revenue streams, making it difficult for the industry to establish a sustainable profit model at this stage. Profitability depends on unit time charging service fee pricing and unit charge pile frequency. Higher pricing combined with increased frequency results in greater profits while lower pricing reduces profitability. Operators often introduce preferential measures such as reducing service fees and enhancing the efficiency of their chargers in order to attract more customers and maximize profits while competing with peers. The current operational status of charging pile operators indicates that only a limited number of operators have achieved profitability, while the majority have not yet recouped their investment costs. Charging equipment manufacturers are facing numerous challenges in developing new technologies and minimizing costs, which will inevitably be passed on to charging equipment operators.

2.4.

Substantial challenges in the late stage

The operation and maintenance of charging facilities in the late stage present substantial challenges [5]. It is inevitable that natural aging or man-made damage will occur over time, leading to numerous safety hazards. Incidents involving electric vehicle charging are prevalent, causing disputes between electric vehicle companies and power supply companies. This significantly impacts user experience and raises public concerns about the safety and reliability of charging facilities. Problems often cannot be addressed promptly due to a lack of clear division of responsibilities and regulatory mechanisms, resulting in untimely maintenance work leading to frequent failures or minor damages escalating into more serious problems with increased difficulty and cost for subsequent maintenance if not repaired promptly. Furthermore, during the operation and maintenance process, there is a critical concern about investing funds. The upkeep of charging facilities requires skilled technicians and equipment that undoubtedly need substantial financial backing. However, the current profit model for charging facilities is imperfect, which leads many operating companies to grapple with tight finances and struggle to secure sufficient funds for facility maintenance and updates. This creates a detrimental cycle where aging and damaged facilities result in diminished user satisfaction which subsequently impacts revenue, and insufficient revenue then hinders effective maintenance. Additionally, users’ improper use of charging facilities also significantly contributes to maintenance challenges as some users lack awareness regarding proper care for the facilities or engage in random destruction or non-standard operations thereby accelerating facility damage. Due to inadequate publicity, many users have insufficient knowledge about charging safety, which increases the likelihood of accidents and puts significant pressure on subsequent maintenance and management.

3.1.

Possible solutions for challenges related to the type, quality, efficiency, and adaptability of charging facilities

The government has the potential to enhance its support in addressing the issues related to the type, quality, efficiency, and adaptability of charging facilities. Firstly, it is imperative to establish relevant policies that guide and encourage enterprises to increase investment in the construction of diverse charging facilities, which will help achieve a balanced proportion between DC fast charging and AC slow charging. Furthermore, it is essential to provide incentives such as subsidies and tax benefits for enterprises that develop various charging facilities. Quality standards and supervision systems should be implemented to ensure strict quality control, with enhanced supervision and inspection of production enterprises. Additionally, it is essential to establish a quality certification mechanism to guarantee that the charging facilities meet rigorous standards. In terms of efficiency, it is necessary to advance technology research, development, and innovation in order to increase charging efficiency and reduce the charging duration. With regard to adaptation, there is a need to establish unified charging interfaces and technical standards to promote compatibility among different electric vehicle models and charging facilities. At the same time, automobile companies should be encouraged to strengthen collaboration and technical exchanges with charging facility manufacturers to ensure proper adaptation.

3.2.

Possible solutions for both the concentrated distribution of charging facilities and the challenges of meeting charging demand in rural areas

The following measures need to be taken given the relatively concentrated distribution of charging facilities and the challenges in meeting the charging demand in rural areas. Careful planning of parking spaces for charging and the provision of adequate charging facilities is essential in new residential areas to ensure construction quality and operational efficiency. In older urban or residential areas, it is imperative to address challenges such as the optimal placement of charging stations, aging electrical circuits, and voltage safety. Enterprises and private investors should be encouraged to engage in building rural charging facilities. Simultaneously, efforts should be made to strengthen the expansion of rural power grids, improve the capacity and reliability of electricity supply, and provide support for the construction and operation of charging facilities. Efforts should also be made to raise awareness and acceptance of electric vehicles among rural residents, and to facilitate the widespread adoption of electric vehicles in rural areas.

3.3.

Possible solutions for substantial investment and prolonged cycle with limited revenue

The following measures need to be taken in order to solve the problems of large investment, low income and long cycle in charging facility industry. The government should enhance its support for the development of charging infrastructure, while also reducing construction costs and operational risks for operators through financial subsidies and tax incentives. Furthermore, there is a need to encourage social capital to engage in building charging facilities, diversify financing channels, and optimize return on investment. Operators are advised to strengthen cost management and enhance operational efficiency in order to improve profitability by optimizing the layout of charging facilities, enhancing charging efficiency, and minimizing maintenance expenses. Additionally, it is important to actively explore diverse revenue models such as partnerships with commercial companies or advertising ventures [6]. Manufacturers of charging facilities should increase their investment in research and development to enhance their technical capabilities. Through technological innovation, they can reduce costs while improving efficiency and safety. Additionally, it is important for the manufactures to strengthen collaboration with operators and electric vehicle manufacturers in order to advance the development of charging facilities. Furthermore, there is a need to reinforce the establishment of industry standards and specifications to enhance compatibility and versatility of charging facilities. This will facilitate seamless connectivity between different brands and models of electric vehicles and charging equipment, ultimately enhancing users’ experience. By implementing these measures, it is possible to effectively tackle challenges such as high construction costs, low revenue, and lengthy cycles while promoting the sustainable growth of the charging facility industry.

3.4.

Possible solutions for Substantial challenges in the late stage

In order to effectively tackle the challenges in the late stage, it is imperative to implement the following measures. Firstly, a clear and comprehensive responsibility division system and an effective supervision mechanism should be established through legislation and regulations, outlining specific obligations of relevant parties in charging facility construction, operation, and maintenance while also enhancing regulatory oversight throughout its life cycle. Secondly, the government ought to increase financial support and utilize subsidies and incentives to alleviate the burden on operating enterprises as well as explore diversified profit models and promote social capital participation. Thirdly, it is imperative to enhance users’ education and guidance through diverse channels in order to disseminate accurate information on proper use. Additionally, legal sanctions for deliberate destruction should be implemented, technical management capabilities of operating enterprises need improvement, a smart monitoring system should be established, and collaboration with professional maintenance agencies is essential. Furthermore, concerted efforts from the entire society are necessary to create a conducive environment, with relevant associations and organizations taking an active role in coordinating activities and initiatives while encouraging public participation in safeguarding charging facilities for sustainable travel and environmental conservation. Through these measures, issues related to delayed operation and maintenance of charging facilities can be gradually mitigated to facilitate the development of electric vehicles.

4.1.

Optimizing construction costs

The primary objective of the layout of electric vehicle charging stations is to achieve maximum profit with minimum cost [7]. The optimal programming model plays a crucial role in efficiently allocating resources, ultimately leading to the lowest cost. When determining the indicators for charging stations, it is essential to comprehensively consider the main indicators of the layout, their respective weights, and flexibility in order to establish an ideal layout system. Utilizing an optimal planning model formula can facilitate the calculation of an optimal layout, thereby achieving minimal cost and maximum profit.

Where n represents the number of charging stations for electric vehicles, C_1o denotes the construction cost of Charging Station o, C_2o represents its annual operation and maintenance cost, C_3o denotes its average annual power grid loss cost, C_4o represents its average annual charging cost for customers, and C_5o denotes its average annual charging loss cost of customers.

4.2.

Optimizing the locations and capacities of charging stations, as well as the number of charging piles within a station

Determining the location and capacity of charging stations involves selecting a scientifically and reasonably located site for the installation of charging facilities, based on predictions of power load and grid operation. This is done to achieve optimal economic security for the power distribution network, effectively improve power supply quality, and reduce grid power loss. Improper decisions regarding location and capacity may lead to increased power loss, reduced power supply quality, and an impact on grid safety [8].

Where α represents the proportion of electric vehicles, β represents the proportion of electric vehicles that require charging, and p_v represents the average battery capacity of electric vehicles.

The number of charging piles to be installed at the charging station is:

Where, at charging station o, n_o represents the number of interface nodes within the service, T denotes the charging service period, m_o signifies the optimal number of charging piles, ρ indicates the rated charging capacity, and k_x represents the power of charging piles. In this context, the optimal number of charging piles is determined based on the maximum daily charging demand of charging station o.