Authors

Mingchuan Ma, Chelsea Liu, Yuewei Shi, Yajie Zeng

Research Question

What are the key challenges and opportunities for electrifying SMB fleets in Low-Income and Disadvantaged Communities, and how can public policies and infrastructure development support the transition to sustainable transportation?

Background

The electrification of small and medium business (SMB) fleets is essential for sustainable urban transportation. However, Low-Income and Disadvantaged Communities (LIDACs) face critical barriers such as charging infrastructure deficits, high EV costs, and policy gaps. This project assesses the impact of state and federal policies on EV adoption and leverages spatial and data-driven methodologies to identify optimal charging infrastructure locations.

Methodology

Aggregating datasets from various sources, the study standardized and processed GIS-based and statistical data to conduct geospatial analyses. Maps were created based on each research question, and these techniques enabled the quantitative assessment of charging infrastructure gaps and transportation accessibility. Additionally, the study assesses policy effectiveness by evaluating Charge Ready NY, National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI), and New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) programs, comparing NYC’s policies with national and global case studies. This work provides data-driven insights for equitable EV adoption, informing policy recommendations and infrastructure investments to accelerate fleet electrification in LIDACs.

Deliverables

• ArcGIS StoryMap integrating policy, infrastructure, and transit data to analyze EV access
• Technical Report

Datasets