Multi-use concepts for charging infrastructure in retail: Charging needs and potential for reducing demand for charging points in Berlin

Abstract

The increasing electrification of the transportation sector presents challenges for expanding charging infrastructure, particularly in urban areas like Berlin. The demand for charging stations competes with existing public road usage, and many businesses lack the resources to set up their own infrastructure. Multi-use concepts, which make private charging stations accessible to other user groups, help increasing infrastructure utilization and meeting charging demands. The Retail4Multi-Use project examines the potential of these concepts at retail locations in Berlin, analysing charging requirements for the years 2035 and 2045 in three scenarios: one without multi-use, one with its implementation, and one incorporating temporal flexibility of charging. The study models the electromobility ramp-up, generates synthetic driving profiles using mobility data, and calculates charging needs through dynamic simulations. The geographical distribution of demand is also assessed. Results show that, in 2035, approximately 3,300 charging points are needed at retail locations, rising to 7,400 by 2045. Multi-use concepts can increase energy usage per point by up to 255% by shifting demand from public spaces. Multi-use-concepts at retail sites with flexible charging times can reduce public infrastructure needs by up to 17%. These findings demonstrate the potential of multi-use concepts to optimize urban charging infrastructure use