Framework connects urban electric vehicle charging to real world needs
From Simulation to Sustainable Urban Mobility: A Purpose-Driven Framework for Advanced EV Charging Technology Transfer
Computers and Society
Summary
Charging electric vehicles (EVs) in cities can be tricky because technical plans don't always match what cities, businesses, and people want or need. This paper presents a new method to link detailed computer simulations of EV charging with the real priorities of those involved in city planning, utilities, and communities. The authors show how their approach helps turn simulation results into practical steps for policies and projects that improve energy use and reduce emissions. They emphasize working together with many groups to make advanced EV charging technologies more useful and sustainable in cities.
What this means in practice
- •For city planning teams: Design policies and urban projects that fit advanced EV charging strategies using integrated simulation-informed stakeholder inputs.
- •For utility operators: Optimize EV charging methods and grid interactions by applying simulation-driven frameworks that reflect diverse operational and sustainability goals.
- •For energy consulting firms: Develop tailored market and business models for advanced EV charging technologies by using a stakeholder-centered transfer framework based on urban mobility simulations.$Commercial implications: Enables consulting firms to offer specialized EV infrastructure planning services that combine simulation data and city stakeholder collaboration.
Authors
Shangqing Wang, Syed Irtaza Haider, Shiwei Shen, Faezeh Motazedian, Rico Radeke, Laura del Rio Carazo, Frank H. P. Fitzek
Abstract
The integration of electric vehicles (EVs) into urban mobility systems offers both opportunities and challenges for cities pursuing sustainability and energy efficiency. While simulation-based approaches have demonstrated the technical feasibility of advanced charging strategies, such as smart charging, bidirectional charging, and Vehicle-to-Grid (V2G), their real-world impact is often constrained by policy, business models, and stakeholder engagement. This paper introduces a purpose-driven technology transfer (PDTT) framework that systematically connects simulation insights with the needs of urban stakeholders. Leveraging a modular simulation architecture based on Simulation of Urban Mobility (SUMO), we evaluate the operational and sustainability impacts of advanced EV charging in complex urban scenarios, assessing indicators such as energy efficiency and CO2 emissions. The PDTT framework guides the translation of simulation results into actionable pathways for deployment, policy design, and market innovation, supporting co-creation with city planners, utilities, and communities. Our findings highlight the value of simulation as a diagnostic and engagement tool, and demonstrate how a multidimensional, stakeholder-centered approach can accelerate the sustainable adoption of advanced EV charging technologies in smart city contexts.