Policy implications of incorporating distance constrained electric vehicles into the traffic network design problem

To exploit the potential of electric vehicles (EVs) as a sustainable form of transport, the technology must be integrated into the traditional transport planning process. EV energy consumption will also become an essential issue for regional energy providers who will need to adapt to the additional electricity demand created by EVs. This study presents research to facilitate planning for EVs by incorporating travelers' behavior and energy consumption into the evaluation process by introducing a novel framework for the network design problem (NDP) which employs a previously introduced constrained shortest path algorithm that accounts for the distance limitations imposed on EV drivers. For certain design scenarios, the total travel time and total energy consumption are shown to be conflicting objectives. In addition, a new equity issue that arises in networks comprised of mixed classes of vehicles is explored. Results illustrate that a given design scenario can impact vehicle user groups differently.