Impact on EV Charging Behaviors
- Drop in Utilization: Initially, there was a sharp decline in EV charging station utilization across all types of charging stations, including both Level 2 (L2) and Direct Current Fast Charging (DCFC), as the pandemic began in March 2020.
- Recovery and Shifts: Over time, DCFC has become more prevalent for public charging compared to pre-pandemic levels. This shift indicates a preference for faster charging options, potentially reflecting changes in travel behaviors.
Weekend Charging Trends
- L2 Charging: On weekends, L2 charging utilization decreases for venues like offices and medical/educational campuses compared to weekdays. In contrast, utilization increases for municipal buildings, leisure destinations, and hotels by 14%, 26%, and 27%, respectively. Peak weekend L2 utilization often occurs in the afternoon for most venues, except hotels, which maintain an overnight peak.
- DCFC Charging: DCFC shows higher use on weekends but with less variation between weekdays and weekends compared to L2 charging. This suggests that people might be using DCFC more consistently throughout the week, including weekends, possibly for longer trips or when faster charging is necessary.
Overall, the pandemic led to changes in travel and charging behaviors, with more flexible use of charging infrastructure on weekends, especially for faster charging options like DCFC.
Original article by NenPower, If reposted, please credit the source: https://nenpower.com/blog/how-does-the-covid-19-pandemic-impact-ev-charging-behaviors-on-weekends/
