Purpose of This Guide
This document is intended to support users in using the Station Selector module to assess and validate locations for the installation of rapid charging stations (typically 50–150+ kW).
Synthesis Tab
Raw charging potential: This insight does not depend on the physical sizing of the station. Instead, it indicates the minimum achievable kWh potential at a given location, derived from analyzing key characteristics such as traffic volume, population density, and proximity to relevant points of interest.
Predicted charge and Metrics Impact:
It represents the average daily volume of kWh expected to be sold at the entire station over the first year of operation.
The prediction is computed using the historical performance of more than 100,000 charging points, analyzed across 50 different features.
A higher predicted charge indicates that the location has strong potential for fast and ultra-fast charging (DC). This typically occurs in areas where key factors are present, such as:
- High traffic flow and major roads (highways, national roads, major commuting routes) where drivers need quick charging during their journey.
- Short dwell time such as rest areas, gas stations, shopping centers, or convenience stores where customers stop briefly.
- High EV adoption and purchasing power in the surrounding area, as DC charging is often more expensive and used by drivers who value time savings.
- Presence of strategic transit hubs (POIs) such as airports, train stations, or logistic zones where mobility demand is intense.
- Existing charging network coverage — fast and ultra-fast chargers perform best when integrated into corridors or hubs with high visibility and accessibility.
By considering these factors alongside the predicted charge metric, users can better assess whether a site is well-suited for fast or ultra-fast charging deployment.
Predicted number of sessions: Average number of daily sessions in the entire station during the year following implementation.
Core Insights to Focus On for Rapid Stations
Traffic & Commercial Environment
- Average Annual Daily Traffic (AADT): High traffic volume is a strong indicator of potential use.
- Max Traffic in the Area: Indicates the busiest road nearby.
- POIs: Look for attractors like supermarkets, restaurants, and train stations that increase dwell time.
Competitor Mapping: Check for presence and type of nearby charging stations. If competitors only offer slow chargers, rapid ones may offer a strategic edge.
Highway Proximity
- Locations within 2.5 km driving distance from highway exits are advantageous.
The platform shows the shortest route and travel time from highway to asset.
Destination Sites (If Applicable)
- For locations within or adjacent to retail partners:
- Look at monthly footfall and average dwell time.
- Ensure that users spend enough time to justify rapid charging (>20 minutes).
Catchment Area Dynamics
- EV Penetration Rate: Key metric for understanding demand.
- Target Market for EVs: Estimate of reachable EVs based on origin zones.
- Population Density & Purchasing Power: Still relevant, but secondary to traffic and EV metrics for rapid stations.
High Potential Location Characteristics
- Near highways or major arterial roads.
- High-traffic commuter corridors.
- Retail or leisure destinations with short–medium dwell time.
- Areas where competitors only offer slow charging.
Best Practices and Strategic Tips
- Benchmark Before You Begin: Use top-performing existing assets as reference and compare their metrics with potential locations.
- Filter for Similar Contexts: Only compare highway to highway or urban to urban to ensure relevance.
- Check the Predicted Daily Charge: Aim for locations with predictive values aligned with business thresholds.
- Map Competitor Gaps: Use the competition layer to identify underserved areas.
- Compare predicted outputs across different charger configurations.
- Focus on sites with both high traffic and high EV adoption.
Recap: Priority KPIs for Rapid Charging Deployment
| Metric | Importance |
| AADT (Annual Average Daily Traffic) | Very High |
| EV Penetration in Catchment | Very High |
| Max Traffic in Area | High |
| Highway Distance | High |
| Target Market for EVs | High |
| Population Density | Medium |
| Purchasing Power | Medium |
| Destination Site Dwell Time (>20min) | Medium |
| Competitor Charger Type | Strategic Insight |
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