UBC study maps electricity generation trade-offs for EV charging in cold climates
By Eve
Researchers at UBC Okanagan have published a framework in Energy Conversion and Management to help cold-region policymakers balance cost and emissions when planning electricity generation for growing EV charging demand. The study, led by doctoral student Sandali Walgama, modelled Alaska's grid using natural gas, coal, hydro, wind and solar sources, finding that charging demand levels and natural gas prices strongly influence the optimal generation mix. The framework combines cost-emissions trade-off analysis with a decision tool for planners prioritising cost, emissions or a balanced approach.
Why it matters
Cold-climate jurisdictions procuring charging infrastructure need to consider upstream grid planning alongside charger deployment, as the emissions benefit of electrification depends on generation sources. The framework offers a replicable method for aligning charging rollouts with grid decarbonisation strategies and cost constraints.
Source
- Original title
- “Study offers roadmap for cleaner, lower-cost EV charging in cold weather”
- Published
- 14 January 2026 (date approximate)
- Updated
- 22 September 2026
In this story
- Topic
- EV Charging
- Place
- Canada
Related news
Electrify America operates 6,029 DC fast-charging ports across 1,191 US sites
Electrify America now runs 6,029 DC fast-charging ports at 1,191 locations in the United States, making it the second largest DC charging network after Tesla Supercharger, according to InsideEVs citing the US Department of Energy's Alternative Fuels Data Center. Over the past year, the network's port count grew by 16% and station count by around 10%, with 202 ports added in the second quarter alone, representing 6.7% of all US DC fast-charging ports. ChargePoint, the third largest operator, installed 333 ports in the same quarter and holds 6.1% market share, while Walmart's network added more ports than any other non-Tesla company in the quarter, reaching 916 ports across 110 stations.
Why it matters
The figures confirm Electrify America's dominant position among non-Tesla networks and provide procurement teams with current scale benchmarks for the US fast-charging market. Walmart's aggressive second quarter rollout signals a major retail-led expansion that could reshape site partnership opportunities for CPOs and equipment suppliers.
Queue and reservation hardware shifts from niche to core layer as high utilisation sites hit capacity limits
The global market for public EV charging queue and reservation hardware is entering structural expansion as charge point operators face physical limits at high utilisation sites, according to an IndexBox report entering 2026. Demand is splitting between integrated systems for new high power hubs and retrofit solutions for existing stations. The hardware includes integrated displays, sensors, payment terminals, communication modules and access controllers, with supply chains characterised by validation requirements where approved vendor status with major CPOs and Tier 1 integrators often matters more than unit cost.
Why it matters
CPOs planning procurement must now evaluate queue management as core infrastructure rather than optional add on, with vendor selection increasingly driven by validation and integration partnerships rather than price alone. The bifurcation between new build and retrofit creates distinct channel and specification strategies for operators upgrading networks.
E.ON acquires former BP Pulse EV charging network in the Netherlands from Catom
E.ON has bought the EV charging business from Dutch fuel distributor Catom, which had acquired BP's petrol station and charging operations in the country last year. The portfolio includes 17 fast charging hubs with Alpitronic chargers delivering up to 300kW, 51 battery buffered sites for grid constrained locations, and 45 secured development sites for future rollout. E.ON Infrastructure will own and maintain the assets while sister utility Essent will handle customer facing operations and marketing, with sites rebranded to Essent and chargers carrying E.ON branding.
Why it matters
The deal consolidates a ready built Dutch charging estate under a major European utility, giving E.ON immediate scale in a market where battery buffered sites address grid capacity constraints. The 45 secured development sites offer a clear pipeline for staged expansion, while the dual brand model separates infrastructure ownership from customer operations.