Electric vehicle charging infrastructure optimization on international transport corridors: Economic analysis and EU regulatory alignment in Ukraine

Purpose. This study addresses the critical infrastructure gap in electric vehicle (EV) fast-charging networks along Ukraine’s M-06 international corridor by developing an optimization framework that simultaneously achieves European Union regulatory compliance and demonstrates commercial viability for private investors. Methodology. The research employs the Maximum Covering Location Problem (MCLP) methodology adapted for linear transport corridors, integrated with multi-criteria site evaluation and comprehensive financial modeling. Spatial analysis identifies coverage gaps relative to Alternative Fuels Infrastructure Regulation (AFIR) requirements, whilst discounted cash flow projections assess economic performance across baseline and sensitivity scenarios. Primary data sources include operator infrastructure inventories, traffic flow statistics, and grid capacity assessments spanning 2022 to 2025. Results. Analysis reveals five critical infrastructure gaps totaling 545 kilometers where inter-station distances exceed the 60-kilometer AFIR threshold. Optimization identifies seven strategically positioned 150-kW stations achieving full regulatory compliance with minimal deployment. Financial modeling demonstrates exceptional viability: 1.75-year payback periods, 52.3% internal rates of return, and positive net present values exceeding 64 million hryvnia across seven stations. Sensitivity testing confirms robustness under pessimistic utilization and cost scenarios, identifying retail tariff margins as the critical determinant of project viability. Theoretical contribution. This investigation advances facility location theory by adapting classical MCLP frameworks to the contexts of emerging-market transport infrastructure, characterized by regulatory transition and data constraints. The integrated optimization-economic methodology provides replicable approaches for systematic charging network planning across diverse geographic and institutional settings. Practical implications. Findings demonstrate that commercially viable EV charging networks can be deployed without substantial public subsidy, enabling capital-constrained governments to leverage private investment systematically. The seven identified priority locations provide actionable guidance for Ukrainian authorities and operators, whilst the methodology is scalable to additional corridors, both nationally and internationally. Results inform European Union integration negotiations by establishing Ukraine’s capacity for evidence-based infrastructure planning aligned with TEN-T standards. Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs): SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy; SDG 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure; SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities; SDG 13: Climate Action