Techno-economic feasibility of photovoltaic-powered electric vehicle charging stations: a global review and future outlook

Abstract

The accelerating growth of electric vehicles (EVs) highlights the urgent need for sustainable and resilient charging infrastructure. Photovoltaic (PV)-powered charging stations offer a promising decarbonization pathway; however, most prior reviews remain fragmented across technical or regional scopes. This study systematically analyzes 97 studies (2015–2025) following the PRISMA framework, integrating findings from HOMER and System Advisor Model (SAM) to evaluate system design, storage integration, grid interaction, and key financial metrics—levelized cost of energy (LCOE), net present value (NPV), internal rate of return (IRR), and payback period (PBP). Findings reveal significant regional variation: the LCOE ranges from $0.03 to $0.12/kWh in developed economies and $0.05 to $0.37/kWh in developing ones, with payback periods spanning 6–12 years, influenced by solar potential, policy support, and grid reliability. Supportive mechanisms—such as feed-in tariffs, net metering, and targeted subsidies—substantially enhance the viability of projects. Persistent challenges include demand–generation mismatch, grid stress from fast charging, and uncertainty in weak regulatory contexts. Furthermore, PV-based EV-charging stations can reduce lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions to 35–110 g CO₂-eq per kWh of electricity delivered to EVs (well-to-wheel basis), representing a 75–90% reduction compared with grid-only charging. Local pollutants such as SO₂, NOₓ, and CO decline by up to 80%, underscoring the environmental superiority of PV-based EV infrastructure. This review presents the first comprehensive global techno-economic synthesis of PV–EV-charging feasibility, highlighting emerging research priorities in AI-driven optimization, second-life battery utilization, and renewable microgrids, offering actionable guidance for researchers, policymakers, and investors to advance resilient, low-carbon EV infrastructure worldwide.