Practical Searching Optimal One-Way Carsharing Stations to Be Equipped with Additional Chargers for Preventing Opportunity Loss Caused by Low SoC

Station-type one-way carsharing systems (OWCS) using electric vehicles (EV) are expected to equip all dedicated stations with chargers to prevent opportunity loss caused by a drivable-distance shortage. However, it is not cost-efficient for an OWCS operator to install chargers at all stations. Therefore, they need a method for finding the optimal stations to be equipped with chargers while also staying within their budget limit. We propose a search method that evaluates the result of a two-step simulation that accounts for state transition. As a case study using practical operational data for Tokyo, we searched for candidate stations to be augmented by chargers.