Recent advances of optimal sizing and location of charging stations: A critical overview

With the rapid development of the global economy and technology, the demand for fossil fuels in transportation and power industries is ever-growing, which inevitably leads to lower fossil fuel storage and higher prices. Electric vehicles (EVs) are widely used as an effective solution to energy shortage and environmental pollution. However, there exist numerous obstacles, such as unmatchable capacity and unsuitable location. Therefore, an appropriate size and location of the charging station (CS) are very crucial. Based on a thorough investigation of 138 literature, this paper comprehensively summarizes the past from three aspects including charging technology, CS model, and methodologies. Besides, a comprehensive summary of the charging way and its level is proposed for a more overall analysis with enriched technologies diversity. Furthermore, two different CS models are discussed detailly in the aspects of the objective function, factors, advantages and disadvantages, applicability, and complexity. Additionally, a detailed summary of three methodologies, including meta-heuristic, multi-criteria decision making (MCDM), and analytical methods, are proposed and a comprehensive evaluation and their advantages/disadvantages, applicability, and complexity are summarized and assessed thoroughly. Finally, 11 valuable and insightful findings are drawn and two promising challenges, two opportunities, and three future directions are proposed for further research. Highlights Key technical difficulties and future challenges of sizing and placement of charging stations (CSs) are discussed. Most representative papers are selected and presented in table form for readers to compare more conveniently. Two different kinds of models and evaluation indexes are introduced in detail and each model is compared and evaluated fairly from different angles. Thirty-three methods of sizing and location determination are summarized and compared strictly, and the advantages and disadvantages, applicability, and complexity of each method are dedicated to being described. Eleven main findings and seven constructive suggestions are put forward because of the development status of electric vehicles.