The Case for Fast-Charging Depots at US Airports

RMI argues that US airports are uniquely positioned to host multi-megawatt fast-charging hubs to support the transition to electric vehicles (EVs), particularly for high-mileage commercial drivers like ridehail and taxi operators. The brief highlights that the US transportation sector must reduce greenhouse gas emissions by at least 45% by 2030 to align with a 1.5°C target, requiring 70 million EVs on the road. Using Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) as a model, RMI found that various business models can achieve an investment payback period of less than 10 years. The document emphasizes the need for early coordination between airports and utilities to manage infrastructure costs and capacity. It also notes that such hubs can address 'charging deserts' in lower-income areas and support mandates like California's Clean Miles Standard, which requires 90% of ridehail fleet miles to be electric by 2030.

• To achieve a 1.5°C climate-aligned future, the US transportation sector needs to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by at least 45% by 2030, which necessitates having 70 million electric vehicles on the road and a 20% decrease in vehicle miles traveled.
• RMI's modeling of a fast-charging hub at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) for ridehail and taxi drivers indicates that multiple business models can provide an investment payback period of under 10 years for both the airport and EV charging service providers.
• California's Clean Miles Standard (CMS) mandates that 90% of ridehail fleet miles be electric by 2030; meeting this target in Los Angeles alone would require 110 to 240 MW of dedicated charging capacity for ridehail drivers, with approximately 10 MW potentially needed at LAX by 2030.
• Airports can mitigate charging inequities for lower-income community members and ridehail drivers who often lack private off-street parking and at-home charging, especially when hubs are located adjacent to 'charging deserts'.
• Common barriers to airport EV infrastructure development include difficulties in evaluating campus-wide demand and hosting capacity, managing capital investment and O&M costs, coordinating siting for various use cases, and future-proofing technology.

APA

RMI (2022). The Case for Fast-Charging Depots at US Airports. https://rmi.org/resources/case-for-fast-charging-depots-at-us-airports/

Chicago

RMI. The Case for Fast-Charging Depots at US Airports. 2022. https://rmi.org/resources/case-for-fast-charging-depots-at-us-airports/.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=RMI |title=The Case for Fast-Charging Depots at US Airports |date=17 November 2022 |url=https://rmi.org/resources/case-for-fast-charging-depots-at-us-airports/ |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{rmi2022case, author = {{RMI}}, title = {{The Case for Fast-Charging Depots at US Airports}}, institution = {RMI}, year = {2022}, month = nov, url = {https://rmi.org/resources/case-for-fast-charging-depots-at-us-airports/}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }