Countries globally are rapidly transitioning to a cleaner energy future—accelerating their push for electric vehicles alongside ambitious targets to phase out gasoline and diesel in transportation. Global electric car sales surged by around 25% in the first quarter of 2024 from the same period in 2023 and are projected to reach approximately 17 million units by the end of the year, accounting for more than one in five cars sold globally.

In Singapore, under its Singapore Green Plan, all new car registrations will have to be cleaner-energy models by 2030, with a target of 60,000 EVCS by the same year. As an essential infrastructure within the broader push for electric vehicles, a comprehensive understanding of EVCS deployment and associated factors is crucial for policymakers, industry stakeholders, and consumers.

Researchers from the Mens, Manus and Machina (M3S) Interdisciplinary Research Group (IRG) of Singapore-MIT Alliance for Research and Technology (SMART), MIT’s research enterprise in Singapore, in collaboration with the University of Florida, Melbourne Business School, Tongji University, and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), have published a study in Nature Communications, one of the first worldwide, that demonstrates the economic benefits of Electric Vehicle Charging Stations (EVCS).

In the paper, titled “Effects of Electric Vehicle Charging Stations on Economic Vitality of Local Businesses,” the researchers analyzed data from over 4,000 EVCS and 140,000 business establishments in California, U.S., finding that installing one EVCS boosted spending at nearby establishments by 1.4% in 2019 and 0.8% from January 2021 to June 2023, leading to an overall increase of USD 6.7 million in 2019 and USD 19.5 million between January 2021 and June 2023, with EVCS attracting higher-income, exploratory visitors and residents.

Akin to the successful business practice of having convenience stores at gas stations, the research illustrates that combining accommodation and food services; arts, entertainment, recreation; and retail trade options with EVCS can significantly boost revenue by attracting more customers, thereby enhancing local economic vitality.

Using a ‘difference-in-differences’ methodology—a way to measure the effect of something (like a new policy) by comparing changes over time between two groups (one that experiences the change and one that does not)—and analyzing data from 4,000 EVCS and 140,000 business establishments in California, U.S., the researchers established a causal link between EVCS presence and favorable economic outcomes.

While EV owners were more likely to be from higher-income populations, with EVCS attracting higher-income visitors, the economic benefits were not confined to high-income neighborhoods. The installation of EVCS also stimulated consumer spending in underprivileged areas—serving as a potential catalyst to enhance economic vitality for businesses within these communities.

The study revealed that strategically positioned EVCS could significantly impact urban planning and economic development. For EVCS operators, this offers an opportunity to create business models and strategically partner with local businesses to drive local economic growth, while policymakers, including those in geographies with a growing EV market such as Singapore, can use these insights to integrate the economic benefits of EV infrastructure into their planning and investment strategies.

The research team employed a comprehensive analytical framework, analyzing real-world data from various regions in California, U.S., using advanced statistical techniques, machine learning, and economic forecasting to ensure high confidence in their results. This approach not only sets a new benchmark for EV infrastructure research but also provides a solid foundation for future studies on the broader impacts of EV adoption.

“Uncovering the synergistic relationship between EVCS and urban planning is essential for the creation of sustainable cities. Our research emphasizes the importance of a comprehensive infrastructure approach that incorporates EVCS into broader mobility and land-use strategies,” said Dr. Yunhan Zheng, Postdoctoral Associate at SMART M3S, first and corresponding author of the paper.

“By optimizing EVCS placement and considering factors such as public transportation accessibility and green spaces, we can develop more livable and climate-resilient urban environments.”

“Electric Vehicle Charging Stations (EVCS) can be powerful catalysts for economic growth, particularly in underprivileged areas, and our findings provide useful insights for policymakers and stakeholders committed to advancing clean energy goals while fostering economic development,” said Professor Jinhua Zhao, Lead Principal Investigator at SMART M3S, Professor at MIT, and one of the authors of the paper.

“Drawing on insights from research and theoretical frameworks, strategically deployed EVCS can stimulate job creation, attract new businesses, and enhance property values, resulting in economic and social benefits of clean energy infrastructure.”

Moving forward, SMART M3S’ work will concentrate on conducting further studies to optimize the placement of future EVCS in Singapore. Building on insights from current research, the team aims to maximize the positive impact of EVCS on local economies by strategically positioning these stations to stimulate economic growth and development within Singapore and globally.

Time off work to deal with IVF, menopause, gender transition treatments, vasectomies and other reproductive health issues would be enshrined in all workplace awards if a national union campaign succeeds.

Using the line, “Its for every body,” the Australian Council of Trade Unions (ACTU) is in Canberra this week lobbying federal politicians to agree to 10 days paid leave so workers can have time to deal with reproductive health.

The call for recognized leave coincides with our research which found symptoms of menstruation, menstrual disorders, menopause and chronic conditions such as endometriosis significantly affect women’s engagement in paid work.

Our review examined 66 articles globally on workplace policies and practices relating to supporting workers with reproductive health needs.

We found employers should foster a workplace culture encouraging communication and understanding around menstruation, menstrual disorders, and menopause.

Seeking national change

This week’s national push, led by the ACTU, has been buoyed by not-for-profit disability service provider Scope agreeing to provide 12 days reproductive leave to its 7,000 workers. They were the first employer in the country to do so.

Earlier this year, the Queensland government also introduced reproductive health leave, giving public sector workers access to ten days a year.

While unions representing health care, banking, community and education sectors have had similar success for many of their members, the ACTU now wants the National Employment Standards expanded to include the leave for all workers.

Unions representing health care, banking, community and education sectors have had similar success for many of their members.

Now the ACTU wants the National Employment Standards—the minimum employment entitlements for all employees covered by the Fair Work Act—expanded to include the leave for all workers.

What is reproductive health leave?

Reproductive health leave is a workplace entitlement acknowledging the need for paid time and work flexibility to treat or manage reproductive health conditions.

These conditions could include menstruation, perimenopause, menopause, polycystic ovarian syndrome, endometriosis, IVF treatments, vasectomy, hysterectomy and terminations.

It differs from other leave entitlements such as personal/caregiver’s leave, compassionate leave and the more recently enacted family and domestic violence leave because it is not a national standard in the Fair Work Act 2009.

Figures included in the Australian Benefits Review 2023 of consultancy firm Mercer suggested businesses and governments have been slow to adopt this type of leave.

They reported only 11% of employers offered paid leave for fertility treatments, while a further 4% gave workers unpaid leave.

Fertility rates

The number of Australians needing fertility help to become pregnant is increasing. Current statistics show fertility issues affect about 1 in 9 couples.

The impact of menstruation, menstrual disorders, menopause and chronic conditions, such as endometriosis have received much needed attention.

A National Action Plan for Endometriosis has set out a productive blueprint focused on improved awareness, education, diagnosis, treatment and research to address the condition’s insidious effects.

The current federal parliamentary inquiry into menopause and perimenopause further recognizes the significance of reproductive health.

Why reproductive health is a work issue

As our research showed, the effects of reproductive health issues ripple through workplaces and extend to the Australian economy.

Workplace rights in Australia are typically grounded in men’s experience of life and work. The “ideal” worker is an individual, typically a male, who has no external obligations or bodily demands outside their work.

Women’s bodies in the workplace are often seen as problematic, unreliable and weaker because they can menstruate, be affected by disorders of the menstrual cycle, and can experience menopause.

Due to their health needs, many women report experiencing harassment, career derailment, lack of career progression and underemployment. Some retire prematurely due to health problems.

Different views

Some women experiencing endometriosis and chronic pelvic pain reported extra leave, while important, was not necessarily their top priority. Instead, they preferred a focus on improving workplace culture, awareness and support.

Education and training of senior leaders was highly valued. Allowing workers to take bathroom breaks when needed together with quiet/rest areas were identified as ways to manage symptoms and remain engaged and productive in the workplace.

The inclusion of male specific issues, such as vasectomy and prostate screening, highlights the importance of inclusively of gender and sex in policy, however extra leave was unlikely to reduce barriers for these procedures.

Very few men report taking time off work was a barrier to getting a prostate screening, or for having a vasectomy.

Instead, barriers were mostly related to other factors. In the case of vasectomy this was often related to perceptions about lowered libido or the pain of the procedure itself.

Hiding the problem

Many employees go to significant lengths to conceal their reproductive health issues.

They remain at work “pushing through the pain,” choosing not to disclose their conditions, given the stigma and taboo associated with reproductive health issues.

A recent study found young people aged 13 to 25, in particular, are significantly affected by reproductive health issues.

While they report missing more days of work due to menstrual symptoms than their older counterparts, younger workers are less likely to be entitled to reproductive health leave because they are often employed in casual roles.

Is extra leave the answer?

The most important consideration when assessing the value of a national plan for reproductive health leave, is there has been little research on its impact.

Our research showed there was a growing body of evidence aimed at understanding women’s experiences managing their menstrual and reproductive health in the workplace and how this affected their work/career trajectories.

However, we found a dearth of research centered on understanding interventions, and most research simply reported on menopause guidelines and focused on the United Kingdom and European Union member countries.

We currently don’t know how beneficial these entitlements may be, if they have unintended negative consequences or if people will feel like they can access them.

Before we enshrine reproductive health leave in the national employment standards, we must assess the impact this and similar leave has had in workplaces where it’s already available.

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.