Strategic Placement of Electric Vehicle Charging Stations: Advancing Decarbonisation in the Transport Sector (Dual PhD with NTHU and University of Liverpool) University of Liverpool in United Kingdom

This dual PhD project, jointly offered by the University of Liverpool and National Tsing Hua University (NTHU) in Taiwan, focuses on the strategic placement of electric vehicle (EV) charging stations to advance decarbonisation in the transport sector. Successful candidates will spend two years at each institution, benefiting from access to large-scale national facilities, a rich cultural experience, and the opportunity to earn two internationally recognised PhD awards.

The research addresses a critical challenge in the global transition to sustainable transportation: the development of adequate charging infrastructure for EVs. While EV adoption is accelerating, the placement of charging stations must be optimised to meet demand, ensure social equity, integrate with energy and transport networks, and discourage excessive reliance on private vehicles. Previous studies have often considered spatial or mathematical optimisation separately, but this project aims to develop a comprehensive modelling framework that incorporates spatial, energy, and sociodemographic factors.

The primary goal is to create an optimisation tool integrated with a spatial model to identify optimal locations for EV charging stations within a region. Key objectives include identifying critical parameters influencing placement, formulating an optimisation problem to maximise utilisation and equitable access, and designing an interactive tool for stakeholders to visualise station locations based on regional needs and constraints. This tool will empower local stakeholders to strategically plan and deploy charging infrastructure tailored to their contexts, supporting decarbonisation efforts.

The PhD is delivered through the NTHU–University of Liverpool dual programme. The first two years are spent at Liverpool (with Dr Anna Charly and Prof Musa Bashir), followed by two years at NTHU (with Prof Dung-Ying Lin). The collaboration offers outstanding research opportunities and the chance to contribute to decision-making and policy formulation regarding EV charging stations.

Funding includes a full tuition fee waiver for four years, a maintenance stipend (TWD 15,233/month in Taiwan; £20,780/year in Liverpool, rising with inflation), and a Research Training Support Grant for consumables and conference attendance. Disabled Students Allowance is available for eligible students, and scholarships are offered to outstanding international applicants. The University of Liverpool is committed to diversity and inclusion, supporting students with caring responsibilities, disabilities, or other personal circumstances.

Applicants should have a degree in Civil Engineering or a related field, strong quantitative and analytical skills, and ideally experience in optimisation, modelling, or data analysis. Applications are open to both home and international students. The deadline for applications is March 15, 2026.

For further information, see the references: Charly et al. (2023) and Lin & Kuo (2021). Apply via the University of Liverpool's online postgraduate research application form, including the project title and reference number NTHU006.