Spatial unevenness in public electric vehicle charging accessibility: A demand-adjusted perspective from Pudong, Shanghai

Investigating public EV charging infrastructure in Shanghai’s Pudong New Area, this study reveals a clear divergence between charger quantity and effective accessibility. Using spatial analysis and gravity-based accessibility models, we find that high-accessibility areas are concentrated mainly in the northwestern urban core, while several eastern and southeastern areas remain relatively disadvantaged. These findings suggest that public charging infrastructure planning should move beyond quantity-oriented expansion and incorporate accessibility gaps, population-adjusted demand pressure, and minimum service considerations into future siting and resource allocation decisions.