As Amsterdam’s electric vehicle (EV) numbers grow, the city is expanding its network of charging stations to keep up. But while charging points are increasing, they aren’t evenly spread out, and access to them often depends on where you live. Wealthier neighbourhoods tend to have more charging stations, while lower-income areas may have far fewer options. This unequal distribution creates accessibility issues that impact who can easily use EVs and participate in the shift to clean energy.

In neighbourhoods with many charging points, residents enjoy the convenience of quick, easy access. In contrast, those in areas with fewer chargers may have to travel further, often incurring extra costs and inconvenience just to charge their EVs. This situation can discourage EV adoption in lower-income areas and hinder the transition to cleaner transportation for all communities. Additionally, as more people rely on the limited charging infrastructure in these areas, the existing chargers may become congested, leading to delays and longer wait times.

This issue also ties into broader questions of energy justice. Ensuring equitable access to essential resources, like energy and clean transportation, is essential for a fair society. Automated decision-making (ADM) technologies are now being used to determine where to place new chargers. However, if these technologies focus primarily on grid efficiency or profitability, they may continue to prioritize wealthier areas, where EV ownership is already higher, and overlook communities with fewer resources.