In this paper the optimal design of an Electric Vehicle Charging Station (EVCS) with the goal of minimizing the lifecycle cost, while taking into account environmental emissions, is presented. Different energy sources such as renewable energy technology based and diesel generation are considered, with realistic inputs on their physical, operating and economic characteristics. In order to address the "range anxiety", concern of EV owners regarding the distance the vehicle can travel, the design of an EVCS along highways, as an isolated microgrid, is studied. In another study, the EVCS is assumed to be connected to the grid as a smart energy hub. The charging demand of the EVCS is estimated considering real drive data. Analysis is also carried out to compare the economics of a grid-connected EVCS with an isolated EVCS and the optimal break-even distance for the grid connected EVCS to be a viable option, is determined. (C) 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.