An evaluation of the actual electric vehicles charging infrastructure in Uruguay and possible designing approaches.

Abstract

This paper presents those methodological, theoretical and computational tools used to plan the performance of the Electric Route in Uruguay for recharging of electric vehicles. The study focuses on service times analysis of charge points over periods of intense vehicular traffic and for prospective scenarios of high penetration of electric vehicles. The first goal is to quantify performance limits for the current recharging infrastructure and vehicles capabilities under stressful contexts, but at the same time realistic, considering existing data of traffic flows and prospective studies for possible electric vehicles penetration scenarios. Queueing Theory is the underlying framework to tack this part of the analysis. The second part of the study uses Markov Chains, whilst assumes a near future with greater driving range of electric vehicles and seeks to estimate how many additional charge points are required to provide a satisfactory level of service. Main results show that the current infrastructure is capable of fulfill near future needs, but for some growth scenarios of the electric vehicles fleet, that infrastructure should be updated to sustain mid to long-term recharging needs.