RESEARCH: Most EV charging stations are out of walking distance for older Montrealers, Concordia research shows

A new study by Concordia researchers finds that many public electric-vehicle (EV) charging stations on the island of Montreal are difficult for older adults to reach comfortably on foot.

Published in the Journal of Urban Mobility, the study assessed walkable access to public EV chargers across the city, with a focus on senior housing. Rather than relying on average adult walking speeds, the researchers adjusted their analysis to reflect the slower pace typical of older adults, which they note is rarely considered in infrastructure planning.

When these age-appropriate walking speeds were applied, accessibility dropped sharply. Nearly half of the elderly care facilities on the island of Montreal had no public EV charging station within a 15-minute walk. This gap limited access not only for residents but also for caregivers, staff and visitors.

The study also identified “double-burden” neighbourhoods, where higher concentrations of older residents overlap with poor access to EV charging. These areas are more common outside the city’s dense, amenity-rich core, where charging infrastructure is currently concentrated.

The researchers found that relatively small, targeted investments could significantly reduce these gaps. Strategic placement of new chargers in underserved areas improved access without requiring a major expansion of the overall network.

They also note that the model is transferable to other cities and could help planners identify where EV charging investments are most needed as they manage the transition to low-carbon transportation.

The study was led by PhD candidate Ahad Farnood under the supervision of Ursula Eicker, a professor in the Department of Building, Civil and Environmental Engineering, Govind Gopakumar, a professor in the Centre for Engineering in Society, and Carmela Cuccuzella at the Université de Montréal. Funding was provided by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada.

Read the cited paper: “Proximity planning for urban electrification: Walkable access to EV charging infrastructure in Montreal”