Electric vehicle charging infrastructure is more accessible but less equitable than petrol stations

The rapid expansion of public charging infrastructure is essential for reducing transport emissions, but its accessibility and fairness relative to conventional fuel networks remain unclear. Here we show that public charging stations provide shorter average travel distances for most people than petrol stations, indicating improved overall accessibility. However, this advantage is not shared equally, with underserved populations experiencing poorer access. Public charging stations also display greater spatial inequality than petrol stations, reflecting their concentration in densely populated urban areas. Analysis further reveals that the socioeconomic and infrastructure factors associated with charging station inequality vary substantially across cities. These findings suggest that although the expansion of charging infrastructure has improved average access, its urban-focused and partly market-driven development may reinforce geographic disparities. Incorporating equity considerations into infrastructure planning will be important to ensure that the transition to low-carbon transport benefits all communities. This study draws on geospatial data from more than one million buildings, over 100,000 charging stations and 337 cities across China. Underserved populations face poorer charging access and disparities vary substantially among cities, according to a nationwide geospatial analysis of more than one million buildings, 100,000 charging stations, and 337 Chinese cities