Sustainability Assessment of EV Chargers
November 2024 - June 2025
Group Project · Master Level · Honours Programme
4TU.Responsible Sustainability Challenge
An interdisciplinary honours programme focused on addressing real-world sustainability challenges in collaboration with external organisations. This project was part of the 4TU.Responsible Sustainability Challenge, involving the four technical universities of the Netherlands and emphasising multidisciplinary teamwork and practical solution development.
In collaboration with NMi Group, this project focused on developing a practical Sustainability Assessment Framework for electric vehicle charging stations (EVCS). Recognising that the environmental impact of EVCS is often overlooked compared to vehicles themselves, we created a questionnaire-based tool that allows manufacturers and regulators to assess product sustainability without requiring full life cycle data. The framework evaluates products across key sustainability dimensions using standardised scoring and visual feedback, helping organisations integrate sustainability considerations into their development processes early and effectively.
Methodology
The project was structured around a challenge-based approach, structured in three iterative phases: Engage, Investigate, and Act. This approach allowed us to progressively define the problem, explore possible directions, and develop a practical solution in collaboration with NMi Group. Throughout the process, we combined literature research, stakeholder input, and iterative design to ensure both academic rigor and industry relevance.
In the Engage phase, we worked to understand the sustainability challenges within the EV charging sector, identifying current limitations in assessing the environmental impact of charging stations. During the Investigate phase, we explored existing assessment methods and frameworks, identifying key gaps and selecting six core sustainability dimensions to guide our tool development. In the Act phase, we designed and tested a practical, questionnaire-based assessment framework that allows manufacturers to evaluate sustainability with limited or self-reported data, providing clear, visual insights through a radar chart-based output.
Engagement Phase
In the Engage phase, we worked closely with NMi Group to understand the broader challenge of sustainability in the EV charging industry. Initial discussions focused on the company’s role in certification and metrology, as well as current practices in evaluating the sustainability of electric vehicle charging stations. This phase enabled us to identify gaps in existing assessment methods and refine the project's focus to develop a tool that addresses these challenges.
Investigate Phase
During the Investigate phase, we explored existing sustainability assessment methods, including life cycle assessments (LCA), environmental product declarations (EPDs), and circularity frameworks. Through literature research, industry feedback, and expert consultations, we identified the limitations of these methods, especially when full product data is unavailable. Based on this research, we defined six key sustainability parameters that would structure our framework: Repairability & Modularity, Durability, Circularity, Material Criticality, Carbon Impact, and Energy Efficiency. These parameters formed the foundation for the tool we developed in the next phase.
Act Phase
In the Act phase, we focused on developing the final Sustainability Assessment Framework, applying a continuous, iterative process aligned with the challenge-based learning approach. Drawing from earlier research and industry feedback, we created a 29-question standardised questionnaire, structured around the six sustainability parameters identified earlier. The high number of questions ensured comprehensive assessment while remaining accessible to users with limited technical data. Each question was carefully designed with clear, objective scoring criteria, allowing manufacturers to assess their products consistently and without specialist knowledge.
The framework was developed in stages, with feedback from supervisors and industry experts integrated into multiple design iterations. We refined question phrasing, scoring thresholds, and data input formats to ensure the tool was practical and easy to use while still technically meaningful. Scores from the questionnaire are automatically averaged per parameter and visualized using a radar chart, providing a clear overview of the product’s sustainability profile and identifying areas for improvement.
Final Design
The final framework is a four-step assessment tool designed for ease of use by manufacturers and evaluators. Users first complete a structured questionnaire, with each question linked to one of the six sustainability dimensions. Responses are scored automatically using predefined criteria, and results are processed within an Excel-based tool that aggregates scores per parameter. These aggregated results are then visualized in a radar chart, providing a clear overview of the product’s sustainability performance. This visual output allows stakeholders to quickly identify strengths and weaknesses, guiding design improvements, procurement decisions, or sustainability strategies.
Reflection & Future Work
Developing the assessment framework highlighted both the opportunities and limitations of simplifying sustainability evaluations for complex products like EV charging stations. While the questionnaire-based approach made the tool accessible and practical for manufacturers with limited data, it also introduced trade-offs in depth and precision compared to full lifecycle assessments.
Looking forward, the framework could be expanded by integrating weighted scoring, allowing certain parameters to reflect industry priorities more accurately. Further validation of the tool through industry pilots would help refine scoring criteria and confirm its effectiveness in real-world product development settings. Incorporating qualitative feedback from manufacturers and regulators could also enhance usability and relevance. Additionally, future versions of the framework could be adapted for other product categories within sustainable infrastructure beyond EV charging stations. Ultimately, this project demonstrated the value of creating simple, structured tools to support sustainability in industries where full assessments are often impractical.
Personal Contributions
In this project, I focused on improving the usability and visual communication of the assessment framework. I contributed to refining the questionnaire’s structure and logic, working on the wording, flow, and grouping of questions to ensure clarity and accessibility for non-expert users. Specifically, I reworked the carbon footprint parameter, reviewing literature and adjusting scoring criteria for better accuracy and usability. I also improved the design of the radar chart, adjusting its layout, labeling, and color coding to enhance interpretability. For the final presentation, I designed an interactive demonstration setup, simulating the tool’s real-world application using visual examples of EV chargers. Additionally, I contributed to the final report, focusing on usability explanations, visual content, and the integration of survey results.