Work

National-Scale Fast-Charging Infrastructure Planning Integrating Geospatial Analysis, MCDM, and Power System Constraints

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: Electromobility is increasingly recognized as a cornerstone of sustainable transport, yet its adoption remains uneven across regions. This study develops an integrated framework that combines geospatial analysis, multi-criteria decision-making (MCDM), and power system evaluation to identify and prioritize fast-charging sites at the national scale. Applied to Costa Rica’s national road network (NRN), encompassing both urban centers and peripheral regions, the framework integrates spatial suitability, socioeconomic priorities, and grid readiness across projected electric vehicle (EV) penetration scenarios. Critically, power system simulations reveal voltage instability at distribution nodes (as low as 89.88% p.u.) under 3% EV penetration despite 99% renewable generation, demonstrating that grid capacity, not planning methodology, constitutes the primary barrier to electric mobility adoption. This finding, derived from the first national-scale analysis that integrates equity-driven spatial prioritization with comprehensive grid validation using real fleet projections, challenges conventional assumptions in transport-focused infrastructure planning. The framework provides a transferable tool for countries seeking to align EV infrastructure planning with sustainability and decarbonization objectives, while highlighting that grid reinforcement must precede, not follow, the deployment of fast-charging infrastructure.

Source: Energies

DOI: 10.3390/en19041041

Authors: Carmen Selva-López, Rebeca Solís-Ortega, Gustavo Gómez-Ramírez, Oscar Núñez-Mata, Fausto Calderón-Obaldía

Institutions: Universidad de Costa Rica, Instituto Tecnológico de Costa Rica

Language: English

Topic: Electric Vehicles and Infrastructure

Subfield: Electrical and Electronic Engineering

Field: Engineering

Domain: Physical Sciences

SDGs: Industry, innovation and infrastructure, Sustainable cities and communities, Affordable and clean energy, Climate action

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $3,137