Assessment of electric vehicle charging station sufficiency in Turkey using data envelopment analysis

Electric vehicles, unlike traditional internal combustion engine vehicles, operate using electric energy. With the growing awareness of environmental sustainability, the use of electric vehicles has been rapidly increasing. In particular, there has been a noticeable rise in electric vehicle sales in recent years. This trend suggests that electric vehicle sales will continue to increase in the future. The growing number of electric vehicles brings with it a need for electric vehicle charging stations. Therefore, the preference for electric vehicles is crucial in terms of the presence and accessibility of charging stations. In order to effectively implement the adoption of electric vehicles and strategic planning processes, a comprehensive examination of electric vehicle charging stations is necessary. This examination is critical for providing proper guidance to potential investors and ensuring the successful establishment of appropriate infrastructure for electric vehicle users. The main aim of this study is to evaluate the adequacy of electric vehicle charging stations across Turkey using Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA). In the research, the adequacy of electric vehicle charging stations operating in all 81 provinces of Turkey is assessed in detail using DEA models. The analysis evaluates the adequacy of the current charging stations in Turkey and classifies them as adequate, partially adequate, or inadequate on a province-by-province basis. Therefore, this study is expected to play an important role in the strategic planning processes and the development of user-appropriate infrastructure for charging stations across Turkey. In the study, Data Envelopment Analysis, a method with over 30 years of history in the literature, is used. This method allows for the evaluation of multiple inputs and outputs, making it an effective model widely used in various fields that require relative performance assessment. In the application section of the study, the Charnes, Cooper, and Rhodes (CCR) input-output model was first applied, followed by the Banker, Charnes, and Cooper (BCC) input-output models, and the results obtained from each model were analyzed separately. In this study, the CCR and BCC models were used to evaluate the adequacy of electric vehicle charging stations in all 81 provinces of Turkey. The adequacy values and rankings of charging stations in each province were measured in detail using the R programming language in the analysis. This study aims to guide the identification of efficient and underperforming regions in terms of electric vehicle charging station adequacy across Turkey, and to assist in the formulation of new investment decisions and charging station improvement strategies.