Charging the Gaps: Identifying Strategic Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Locations in Rural Ohio

For rural Ohio drivers, running low on battery charge isn't a minor inconvenience. It can mean stranding, detours, or abandoning the trip altogether. Despite Ohio's growing vehicle fleet, less than one percent are electric, and charging infrastructure remains concentrated in Columbus, Cleveland, and Cincinnati, leaving rural corridors without reliable access. Prior research on EV infrastructure has focused almost exclusively on urban centers and highway corridors, largely overlooking rural mobility needs. This study addresses that gap by combining GIS spatial analysis with driver survey data to identify rural Ohio corridors where strategic charger placement would most effectively reduce detours and range anxiety. Charging stations were mapped statewide, Priority Zones with gaps exceeding 30 miles were flagged, and six candidate sites were selected using traffic, population, and land-use criteria, then verified through a 47-respondent dealership survey. The results were striking: 66% of respondents cited charging availability as a barrier to EV adoption, and 72% reported feeling stranded or anxious while searching for a charger, with reported anxiety corridors matching the exact gaps identified through spatial analysis. For state planners and infrastructure developers, these findings suggest that closing six specific corridors could meaningfully expand where Ohioans can realistically own an EV.