A VIKOR-based framework to optimize the location of fast-charging stations with proportional hesitant fuzzy information

In this study, a multi-criteria group decision making (MCGDM) framework is constructed for electric vehicle fast-charging station (EVFCS) selection using a proportional hesitant fuzzy set (PHFS) that can describe two aspects of information: the possible membership degrees in the hesitant fuzzy elements and associated proportion representing sta-tistical information from different groups. A newly extended distance measure for PHFSs is introduced and an extended maximizing deviation method is constructed to obtain criteria weights objectively. Accordingly, an integrated PHFS-VIKOR (VlseKriterijum-ska Optimizacija I Kompromisno Resenje) method embedded with a new distance measure and extended maximizing deviation method is presented. With increasing concerns about range anxiety, it is essential to seek an optimal location for EVFCS considering efficient utilization of resources and long-term development of socio-economy under proportional hesitant fuzzy environment. Lastly, an illustration with sensitivity analysis and comparative analyses is provided to demonstrate the validity and robustness of our proposal.