Predicting Electric Vehicle Range using Fast Charging Stations

Kelly Carmichael, Research Analyst with the British Columbia Institute of Technology (BCIT) has developed a comprehensive model to factor in real-world elements that impact EV range, for mapping out how charging location scenarios would meet the needs of EVs available today. This tool (the “EV Infrastructure Planning Assistant”) factors in station type, roads (speed, elevation, distance), EV energy consumption, temperature adjustments, battery capacity, battery aging, and battery charging curves, to more realistically understand range limitations for the various models.

The software is a useful tool to show how well a particular route is served with charging stations and to predict the driving conditions an EV driver could expect when driving between stations. I generated the map below to show the impact of the proposed installation of fast charging stations by Electric Circuit in Eastern Ontario. The software conducted the Gap Analysis for the conditions entered, and displays the results in a coloured coded map. In this case, the blue lines represent “Good”, meaning that the distances between charging stations are sufficient for this particular vehicle to travel under the indicated conditions.

For further information about this software, contact Kelly_Carmichael@BCIT.ca