A study conducted by researchers from Oregon State University has found that solar-powered EV charging stations could address the issue of range anxiety, one of the main reasons people do not buy electric vehicles (EVs).
Casey L. Steadman and Chad W. Higgins found that solar power-based EV charging infrastructure near rural highways can encourage people to shift to EVs.
Their hypothesis is that rural areas are devoid of EV charging stations, hence the reluctance among residents to buy EVs.
The researchers found that people’s reliance on traditional fuels is causing environmental damage more quickly than first thought.
They suggest that installing solar-powered charging stations as part of the state infrastructure could help to reduce anxiety about electric vehicle range and encourage more people to switch to EVs.
The study sampled 231 rural highway access sites that had enough land area and sunlight to support solar power systems.
Based on this research, they estimate that Oregon would need 12,000 acres of land to accommodate a solar-powered EV charging infrastructure near highways.
The study found that the use of solar power could reduce the amount of carbon in the environment by the equivalent of 673,915 vehicles. In addition, the solar panels would only require 3 percent of the total land supply, and could provide power to 86 percent of rural highway charging station sites.
