Optimizing Electric Vehicle Charging Station Placement in Greek Municipalities Through Multi-Criteria Decision Analysis

Abstract

The transition to battery electric vehicles (BEVs) necessitates the establishment of an effective charging infrastructure, especially in countries like Greece where BEV adoption has been slow. This paper presents a comprehensive multi-criteria decision analysis (MCDA) framework to facilitate the optimal siting of electric vehicle charging stations (EVCSs) in Greek municipalities. The framework considers a broad range of economic, environmental, social, and technological factors and is supported by a user-friendly, web-based application that enables stakeholders to assess potential EVCS locations by dynamically adjusting criteria weights and conducting sensitivity analyses in areas of their interest. The application is tested via a case study involving municipalities in Crete, demonstrating its utility in guiding strategic investments. The results indicate that the framework is effective in identifying promising locations for EVCS deployment, highlighting the most significant criteria influencing investment decisions and supporting the strategic planning of EVCSs infrastructure.

Keywords: electric vehicles, Charging Stations, Multi-criteria Decision Analysis, Web-based Application