Jung's dissertation examines how economic incentives, regulatory design, and physical infrastructure constraints shape energy and transportation outcomes in the United States, with a particular focus on electric vehicle (EV) infrastructure and road safety policy. Across three essays, I combine novel data construction with quasi-experimental and spatial empirical methods to study how policy and infrastructure interact with market behavior and safety outcomes.
The first chapter studies the effect of electricity prices on the market entry of EV charging stations. I construct a novel dataset linking commercial electricity pricing schedules to EV charging stations across U.S. ZIP codes from 2015 to 2022. By translating complex rate structures into standardized station-level electricity costs using observed charging behavior, I estimate the effects of targeted price schedules designed to reduce demand charges. Using synthetic control and local projection difference-in-differences methods, I find that these schedules reduced total electricity costs substantially and increased DC fast charging port entry by 35%, highlighting the role of rate design in accelerating EV infrastructure deployment.
The second chapter evaluates the safety implications of regulatory changes in driver licensing. Focusing on Maryland’s extension of driver’s license renewal periods, I estimate its effects on fatal crashes involving senior drivers using county-level data and a synthetic difference-in-differences framework. The results show increases in fatal crashes involving drivers aged 65 and older, particularly in urban counties, while effects for younger drivers are largely insignificant. These findings underscore the importance of accounting for geographic heterogeneity when designing age-related safety regulations.
The third chapter investigates how physical electricity grid constraints influence the spatial deployment of EV charging infrastructure. Using nationwide data on charging stations and substations, I show that proximity to substations is a key determinant of charging infrastructure presence and intensity, especially for DC fast charging. Infrastructure growth primarily concentrates near existing grid assets rather than expanding into peripheral areas, suggesting that grid readiness acts as a binding constraint. Together, the findings motivate a policy approach that integrates energy pricing, transportation planning, and electricity grid infrastructure investment.
