Daytime Charging: What Is the Hierarchy of Opportunities and Customer Needs? Case Study Based on Atlanta Commute Data

The charging pyramid indicates that residential charging is the foundation, with workplace charging at the next level, and public charging at the top. For intra-metro driving both plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) and all-electric vehicles (AEVs) can benefit from Level 1 or 2 daytime AC charging opportunities at the workplace, the house, or other locations. Many U.S. estimates of technical potential of plug-in vehicles have made use of the National Household Transportation Survey (NHTS), relying on single day vehicle samples. However, due to day-to-day variability, a similar German survey has shown that a full week sample implies a significantly smaller share of driving can be accomplished electrically by AEVs. This study uses the Commute Atlanta data base to examine a full year of data, contrasting its implications with those previously developed with NHTS single day data. Financial viability is contrasted with technical viability of plug-in electric vehicles (PEVs). Within the filtered Commute Atlanta data base used, privately held vehicles are separated into two categories ¨D those that commute intensively (>170 days/yr.) and those that commute less or not at all. It is estimated that the daily and annual average travel of the two groups are similar. The size of the low/no commute segment of the market are larger than the intense commute market. Due to similarity of driving, it is observed that similar PHEV designs might adequately serve both markets. Opportunities to enhance financial viability via addition of daytime workplace or home charging are examined.