Examining barriers to electric vehicle adoption using vehicle and charging infrastructure data, owenership cost analysis, and electrical grid demand and environmental impact analyses

Abstract

This thesis reports the results of research on the analysis of data emerging from electric vehicles (EV) and charging infrastructure and the applications of the data on the study of the impacts increasing numbers of EVs will have in a societal and environmental context. Due to concerns regarding fuel consumption in the road transportation sector and associated greenhouse gas emissions, fossil fuel depletion, and harmful air pollutants, electromobility is increasingly being considered as a viable alternative to internal combustion engine vehicles (ICEV); however, numerous barriers are inhibiting the widespread adoption of EVs. The research was conducted in conjunction with the Green eMotion 7th framework programme (FP7) project, a pan-European project aimed at developing the European framework for an interoperable electromobility system. During the project an EV trial was implemented in Ireland wherein fifteen EVs were deployed and monitored, recording trip and charge data. Additionally, an abundance of charging infrastructure installed by the Electricity Supply Board (ESB) throughout Ireland recorded charge data. This research was aimed at conducting an extensive analysis of the data returned by the Evs and charging infrastructure in order to attain a comprehensive understanding of how they are being operated, and at utilising the data to assess differing aspects of EV usage with a focus on contributing to the alleviation of some of the barriers to EV adoption