Public electric vehicle charging station location and equity-focused legislation in Nevada

This study evaluates whether electric vehicle (EV) charging station diffusion shows signals of shifting from a market-driven to a more equity-oriented approach following the implementation of Nevada Senate Bill 448 in 2021. While federal and state agencies have worked to better integrate equitable access to EV charging into planning and funding strategies, it remains unclear how network-wide spatial alignment between charging infrastructure and neighborhood-level characteristics of disadvantage have evolved. This study employs spatial and statistical analyses to evaluate how the placement of EV charging stations corresponded with demographic, economic, and built-environment characteristics of nearby neighborhoods across the state of Nevada, and how these relationships shifted following the 2021 policy intervention. The results reveal three primary patterns. First, station installations exhibit a negative and statistically significant association with the resident Hispanic population and with household income. Second, no federal disadvantaged community designation is significantly associated with new or additional installations after 2021, while proximity to casino resorts is positively and significantly associated with station placement, indicating continued concentration in high-amenity, tourism-oriented locations. Third, built-environment relationships have evolved. Initial installations after 2021 are negatively and significantly associated with denser street networks, whereas additional stations beyond the initial investment are positively and significantly associated with denser street networks suggesting a partial shift toward denser and more urbanized settings. These findings can further guide policy direction toward equity-focused station planning approaches and highlight areas that require greater focus.