Abstract This paper developed an agent-based trip chain model (ABTCM) to study the distribution of electric vehicles (EVs) charging demand and its dynamic characteristics, including flexibility and uncertainty, at different types of location. Key parameters affecting charging demand include charging strategies, i.e. uncontrolled charging (UC) and off-peak charging (OPC), and EV supply equipment, including three levels of charging equipment. The results indicate that the distributions of charging demand are similar as the travel patterns, featured by traffic flow at each location. A discrete peak effect was found in revealing the relation between traffic flow and charging demand, and it results in the smallest equivalent daily charging demand and peak load at public locations. EV charging and vehicle-to-grid (V2G) flexibility were examined by instantaneous adjustable power and accumulative adjustable amount of electricity. The EVs at home locations have the largest charging and V2G flexibility under the UC strategy, except for a period of regular working time. The V2G flexibility at work and public locations is generally larger than charging flexibility. Due to the fast charging application, the uncertainties of charging demand at public locations are the highest in all locations. In addition, the OPC strategy mitigates the uncertainty of charging demand.