How to Optimize Electric Vehicle Charging Station Locations

Electric vehicles (EVs) are a key lever in the effort to reduce transportation emissions and build a more resilient transportation system. And despite market uncertainty, used EV sales reached a new record high in March 2026.¹ But to encourage widespread EV adoption, drivers need access to reliable, convenient, and affordable EV charging stations. 

For public agencies; utilities; and real estate, retail, and fueling companies working on expanding EV charging infrastructure, finding the right locations for new chargers and monitoring traffic to existing sites is critical, especially when limited funding is available to cover installation costs. While the right locations can drive positive return on investment (ROI), foster public trust in EVs, and help drive down vehicle emissions, the wrong locations could result in largely unused stations and poor ROI that dissuades future investment. 

To optimize private and public EV charging infrastructure, businesses and agencies both need a strategic approach that balances several key goals: 

• Charger utilization 
• Reliability (uptime) 
• Coverage (access) 
• Equity (fair distribution) 
• Grid/cost performance (capacity and operating costs) 

Each of these variables impacts ROI and public trust, which are key to driving long-term EV adoption and emissions reduction. 

In this article, we’ll discuss five core considerations for effective EV charging infrastructure and the key metrics you can use to make the most of charging infrastructure investments. 

1. Define Charging Demand and the Right Charger Mix (Level 2 vs DC Fast Chargers)

Charging demand can differ based on location and use case, so before you can identify optimal locations for chargers and what type of chargers you need, it’s important to define the type and level of charging demand you’re hoping to meet. 

For example, the type of charging infrastructure (Level 2 vs. DC fast charging stations) and number of chargers needed along a major travel corridor may be very different from what you’d need to support EV charging at a residential multi-unit building, or an electric truck fleet charging hub.

To understand the unique charging mix needed to meet your goals, a data-driven approach is key. Many vehicle traffic metrics can help you understand where and which type(s) of chargers you need, including: 

• Vehicle volumes by time of day 
• Origin-Destination and routing patterns 
• Dwell time and trip distances 
• EV Activity (relative activity of EV trips vs. hybrid and gas vehicle trips) 
• Aggregated driver demographics (to support equitable charger deployment) 

Below, we explore how each of these metrics can inform where and what type of charging infrastructure you may want to invest in. 

Match charger speed to dwell time

Dwell time is a particularly useful metric to understand what type(s) of chargers you need to meet charging demand in a particular area. Dwell time measures how long a vehicle dwells (or stops) at a given location before it leaves. 

Different charger levels have different charging capacities and take different amounts of time to charge a vehicle. For example, Level 2 chargers are typically more affordable to install, but offer less kilowatt output and use AC (rather than DC) current. These factors mean that a Level 2 charger takes longer to fully charge a vehicle’s battery – often between 2 and 8 hours. 

Meanwhile, a DC fast charger (sometimes called a level 3 charger) can handle more kilowatts and also converts AC current from the grid to DC current before it reaches the electric vehicle. This results in a much faster charge – often between 15 and 30 minutes. 

Understanding vehicle dwell time can help you determine what mix of chargers makes sense at a given location. If vehicles tend to stop for hours at a time (like at residences, workplaces, hotels, and certain entertainment venues), Level 2 chargers may be appropriate. However, to support charging in places where people only tend to stop for 10-30 minutes (like highway rest stops), DC fast chargers may be needed. Mismatching charging speed and dwell time is one of the easiest ways to create underutilized charging infrastructure. 

Additionally, because personal vehicles often have different charging needs and different opportunities for electrification than commercial vehicles/trucks, segmenting dwell times by vehicle type can further inform the appropriate charger mix at a specific location. With StreetLight, customers can segment vehicle activity data by personal vs. commercial vehicles and further drill down into light-, medium-, and heavy-duty trends for additional clarity on charging demand. 

Size your charging infrastructure for today + expansion

To fully optimize your charging infrastructure, it’s important to design for growth from day one. Deploying charging infrastructure that only meets the demands of today can lead to costly redevelopment as EV adoption rates increase and charging demand outstrips available supply. 

A phased expansion plan can help you ensure a right-sized investment both now and in the future. Making a large up-front investment to build maximum capacity charging infrastructure can result in early underutilization and low ROI for development and utility partners. Instead, consider a deployment plan that expands to include more sites, power pathways, and port add-ons as future demand and capacity grow. 

To design a phased approach that consistently meets the needs of EV users, you need to determine which potential charging station locations will be most utilized based on today’s driving patterns (more on that below). 

2. Find High-Value EV Charging Station Locations Using Real Mobility Patterns

Identifying the highest value EV charging locations is more complex than knowing which roads are busiest or where chargers already exist (although these are helpful factors to consider). To build a prioritized list of sites for EV chargers, you need clear insights into real travel behavior. 

Here are some data-driven ways you can identify strong locations for EV chargers and inform effective phasing for long-term deployment. 

Identify where vehicles already stop long enough to charge 

In addition to being useful in identifying the right charger mix, as discussed above, dwell time is also a key metric for identifying the most impactful locations for EV charger deployment. 

Use the dwell time metric to understand where vehicles are stopping long enough to charge. You’re looking for average dwell times around 10-30 minutes for DC fast chargers and a few hours or more for Level 2 chargers. 

Likewise, trip length can be a useful metric in identifying where drivers are most likely to need a charge at a given location. The farther a vehicle has traveled before it stops at a given location, the more likely it is to need a charge at that location. Look for locations where both dwell time and trip lengths are relatively high. 

Similarly, Origin-Destination and routing patterns can provide additional clarity on charging demand. Identifying common origins and destinations as well as the top routes drivers take between locations can help identify potential corridors or regions where drivers are likely to need a charge. 

By prioritizing locations where dwell time and trip patterns already align with charging needs, the chargers you deploy are more likely to see high utilization rates and ROI, which can support expansion efforts and further boost EV adoption. 

Do a gap analysis of existing charging locations 

Understanding where EV chargers currently exist is another key factor in prioritizing where to invest in additional charging infrastructure. Identifying gaps in your existing charging network helps you ensure that drivers always have a convenient place to charge, and no two charging hubs are competing for the same demand (i.e., cannibalizing each other). 

When identifying optimal potential locations for new chargers, always compare these locations to a map of existing infrastructure. If one site looks like a strong candidate for new chargers based on metrics like dwell time and trip length, but it’s less than a mile away from an existing charging hub, that could warrant de-prioritizing that location or saving it for later phases of expansion. 

Validate “sticky” demand vs. one-off traffic 

To prioritize locations with consistent charging demand, it’s also important to understand seasonal and event-based fluctuations in travel behavior. The most strategic placements for charging infrastructure tend to have “sticky” or consistent demand (e.g., due to commuting patterns or regular errands) rather than seasonal or one-time spikes.  

Prioritizing locations with consistent rather than spiky demand also helps ensure charging locations always have ample grid capacity and will drive reliable long-term ROI. 

To identify stick demand, it’s helpful to use a traffic data source that has high temporal coverage rather than basing decisions on temporary counts that may capture only one or two days or traffic activity.  

StreetLight’s repository of traffic data offers high temporal coverage and granularity that can help users separate seasonal and one-time spikes from consistent travel patterns. With the ability to measure any hour of the day and any day of the week, down to 15-minute granularity, this also enables you to understand how charging demand might shift over the course of a day or week. 

3. Screen Charging Locations for Grid Capacity and Site Feasibility

The best EV charging locations can still fail if the site can’t reliably deliver the necessary power or has land use constraints that create inconvenience for drivers. 

Grid constraints that impact ROI 

Grid capacity and utility rates can make or break the economic feasibility of your deployment plan. Drivers will be less likely to use charging locations that are unreliable or overly expensive.  

Coordinating with local electric utilities can help agencies and developers ensure the chosen locations can support increased grid demand at an affordable rate.  

To learn more about protecting grid capacity and coordinating long-term electrification planning, see how New England’s largest utility uses StreetLight data to get ahead of EV charging demand.

Site constraints that kill performance 

Certain practical land use constraints can also impact site performance. Consider factors like: 

• Visibility – Can drivers clearly see the site from the road and navigate the site safely and confidently, even at night? 
• Access points – Are they clear and convenient for drivers? 
• Space – Is it easy for vehicles of different sizes to maneuver and park safely? 

Permitting + stakeholders (reduce project friction) 

Coordination with utilities, cities, and property owners is essential for any charger deployment project. Starting this process early can help prevent permitting delays and ensure positive stakeholder relationships that will support future expansion efforts. 

4. Optimize EV Charging Locations for Equity and Network Coverage

To build a charging network that meets the needs of all road users, an equitable distribution of charging station locations is key. Consider who has the most access to current charging locations and how you can fill gaps for drivers who lack convenient access. 

For example, it’s common to find charging network gaps in communities that are commonly underserved, while wealthier districts may already have more available charging options. 

Expanding charging access to more communities also helps you avoid deploying chargers that go underutilized because EV drivers who might visit that location already have convenient access to charging elsewhere, such as at their home or workplace. 

Aggregated traveler demographics can help you go beyond simple geographic spread when identifying coverage gaps in your local charging network. For example, StreetLight can help you understand the mix of travelers at a given location based on factors like household income, family size, and more. 

5. Forecast Utilization and Prioritize a Build-Out Portfolio

After analyzing all the above factors, you’ll need to rank your list of candidate sites by priority in order to phase your deployment into short-, medium-, and long-term expansion goals. 

Your specific funding sources, existing coverage, stakeholder goals, and local travel patterns can impact how you choose to optimize your charger deployment plan. Consider creating a weighted ranking system for factors like: 

• Overall vehicle volumes 
• Dwell times and trip lengths 
• Origin-Destination and routing patterns 
• Charger mix needed (Level 2 vs. DC fast chargers) 
• Demand stickiness 
• Equity 
• Grid capacity 
• Site feasibility 
• Distance from existing charging infrastructure 

Once you’ve created a ranking system that matches your set of regional priorities, give each potential site a score in each category. You can then multiply that score by the weight assigned to that category, and repeat the process for each other category, adding the values together to create a total score for each site. This can help you prioritize the highest-scored sites for early deployment and slate lower-scoring sites for future phases of expansion. 

You might also choose to qualitatively review sites that score highly and select a mix of sites that optimize for a variety of different criteria. Again, your specific approach may depend on the factors that are most important for your specific region, project goals, or stakeholder partners.

Turn Mobility Analytics Into Better EV Charging Locations With StreetLight

Many factors go into identifying your area’s highest priority locations for new EV chargers, so making an informed, defensible decision requires having reliable insights into how, where, and when people drive and park. 

StreetLight has the most trusted repository of mobility data available on the market, offering insights that are rigorously validated and trusted by agencies, researchers, and businesses across North America. 

Industry peers are already using StreetLight to forecast charging demand and choose optimal charger locations. For example, experts in the Silicon Valley used StreetLight data to identify 400+ locations for new public chargers and support California’s goal of having five million EVs on state roads by 2030. 

Likewise, Eversource, New England’s largest utility, used data from StreetLight to model regional EV charging demand and design appropriate charging rates and energy management strategies to protect grid capacity. 

Learn more about how StreetLight supports EV charger optimization on our location intelligence for EV charging and fueling page. 

To see if StreetLight’s mobility data can help optimize your own EV charging infrastructure planning, reach out to a team member today.  

FAQs

What data do you need to optimize EV charging locations? 

Vehicle volumes, dwell times, trip lengths, traveler demographics, Origin-Destination patterns, routing, personal vehicle vs. truck activity, and other metrics can be useful in optimizing EV charging locations. While the specific metrics you need may vary based on your goals, a data-driven deployment strategy is key to avoiding underutilized stations that deliver poor ROI. 

How do you choose between Level 2 and DC fast chargers? 

Level 2 chargers are more affordable to install but take longer to deliver a full charge, while DC fast chargers can be more expensive but also more efficient. Determining the appropriate mix of charger types for your project depends on factors like: 

• Your budget 
• Your development partner(s) 
• Grid capacity 
• Existing infrastructure mix 
• Existing vehicle mix (e.g., how much traffic is trucks vs. personal vehicles) 
• How long vehicles typically stop at potential charging locations (dwell time) 
• The location (e.g., along a highway vs. at a retail hub) 

For more information on choosing the right charger mix, see Section 1 above. 

How do you improve EV charging station utilization after launch? 

Optimal site selection is key to building highly utilized charging stations, but there are also strategies you can use after deployment to boost utilization rates. 

Consider strategies like: 

• Improving the visibility of the charging stations. Clear signage, good lighting, and consistent map integration (e.g., on Google Maps or charging-specific platforms like ChargeHub) can all help increase discoverability for drivers. 
• Implement pricing incentives. Tactics like dynamic pricing for peak vs. off-peak hours and idle fees for vehicles that remain plugged in after fully charged can help encourage more visits throughout the day and increase availability of chargers during peak demand hours. 
• Invest in reliability. Ensure chargers are in good working condition with reliable up-time to support local charging demand. Regular, proactive maintenance and strategic energy management strategies can help with this. 
• Improve customer experience. Small details can make or break the customer experience and likelihood of repeat visitors. Consider adding amenities like shade canopies, lighting, trash cans, and flexible payment options.