Theses and Dissertations from UMD

Permanent URI for this communityhttp://hdl.handle.net/1903/2

New submissions to the thesis/dissertation collections are added automatically as they are received from the Graduate School. Currently, the Graduate School deposits all theses and dissertations from a given semester after the official graduation date. This means that there may be up to a 4 month delay in the appearance of a give thesis/dissertation in DRUM

More information is available at Theses and Dissertations at University of Maryland Libraries.

Browse

Filters

20241

Settings

Author: search.filters.author.Ugwu, NneomaSubject: search.filters.subject.Minority

Search Results

Now showing 1 - 1 of 1
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    EQUITY ISSUES IN ELECTRIC VEHICLE ADOPTION AND PLANNING FOR CHARGING INFRASTRUCTURE
    (2024) Ugwu, Nneoma; Niemeier, Deb; Civil Engineering; Digital Repository at the University of Maryland; University of Maryland (College Park, Md.)
    Electric Vehicles (EVs) offer a sustainable solution to fossil fuel dependency and environmentalpollution from conventional vehicles, crucial for mitigating climate change. However, low market penetration among minority and low-income communities raises equity and environmental justice concerns. This dissertation examines EV adoption and charging station access disparities in Maryland, focusing on sociodemographic factors such as race and income. To address the lack of minority representation in existing EV research surveys, we conducted anonline survey targeting people of color (POC) and low-to-moderate-income households. We received 542 complete responses. Ordinal regression models were used to analyze factors influencing EV interest. We then performed a cumulative accessibility study of EV infrastructure in Maryland. Pearson correlation analysis was used to show the relationship between charging station accessibility and sociodemographics. Population density showed a strong positive correlation (0.87) with charging deployment. We found that Baltimore City, had the highest population density and the highest concentration of EV charging in Maryland. We conducted a case study of Baltimore City’s EV infrastructure investments and policy efforts. Charging stations were categorized based on speed, network, access, and facility type. Spatial analysis andZero-Inflated Poisson (ZIP) regression models at the block group level were employed to investigate the disparities in EV charging infrastructure distribution within the City across minority and non-minority communities. Our findings show substantial disparities in EV perceptions between POC and Whitecommunities. The survey revealed that POC were more than twice more likely than White respondents to indicate that the availability of charging stations affects their interest in EV adoption, while the case studies revealed that POC populations are less likely to have access to EV infrastructure, necessitating targeted investment in charging options and subsidies in these communities. Our study also found the need for policies fostering residential charging station deployment, particularly in minority communities. To ensure equitable EV adoption, strategic investments in economically disadvantaged and rural areas beyond centralized regions are vital. This study informs evidence-based policies prioritizing accessibility, equity, and inclusivity in promoting a cleaner and sustainable transportation landscape.