Installing one electric vehicle charging station boosts annual spending by almost 1 percent at nearby establishments, such as food, retail, arts and entertainment. The boost grows by four times when stations were installed within 100 meters of such establishments.

Those are among the findings from “Effects of electric vehicle charging stations on the economic vitality of local businesses.” The study, published in September in Nature Communications, analyzed data from more than 4,000 electric vehicle (EV) charging stations and 140,000 businesses in downtown Los Angeles and San Francisco, California.

Between January 2021 and June 2023, spending at nearby establishments increased by 0.8 percent ($404) from January 2021 to June 2023, and by 1.5 percent ($1,478) in 2019, according to the study. Spending increased by 3.2 percent and 2.7 percent during those periods, respectively, when a point of interest was within 100 meters of a charging station. The analysis incorporated three categories of points of interest: accommodation and food services; retail; and,arts, entertainment, and recreation.

Charging stations have the “potential to exert a broader influence on local communities, particularly on the economic vitality of surrounding businesses,” according to the study. They offer businesses the “potential to diversify income streams. Understanding the extent of this phenomenon is crucial for policymakers, providers, and business owners to harness the full potential of EV charging infrastructure and create sustainable and vibrant communities."

InTransition magazine recently looked at the future of gas stations amid the rise of electric vehicles.