Congestion Forecasting for Electric Vehicle Charging Scheduling with Fluid Queues

Abstract

To support the adoption of electric transport systems, public charging opportunities are becoming increasingly important. In this dynamic environment, a central challenge for route planning and charging scheduling is forecasting charging-station availability under fluctuating demand. In this work, we propose a fluid-based forecasting method that accounts for uncertainty in both known and unforeseen electric vehicle arrival patterns while respecting station capacity constraints. We further evaluate the congestion forecasting method by applying it to an electric vehicle scheduling problem. Compared to scheduling frameworks that rely on standard baselines, charging schedules based on the fluid congestion forecasting model reduce waiting-related downtime by up to 14%. Finally, we quantify how increased knowledge of vehicle arrivals and different levels of station congestion affect overall system performance.