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Methodological Approach for Evaluating the Impact of Electric Vehicles on Power Distribution Networks

Abstract:

The future of transport will be based on electrical energy, but the transition from fossil fuels will not be easy and will lead to a fundamental change in power distribution networks. The insertion of plug-in-electric vehicles have become a promising solution to reduce CO2 carbon dioxide emissions. However, the insertion of electric vehicles represents an unexpected increase in the electricity demand, this imposes new challenges for the distribution system operators, due to the uncertainties associated with the electric vehicles charging. This article proposes a practical methodological framework in order to assess the impact of plug-in-electric vehicles on power distribution networks. The proposal includes four levels of uncertainties: electric vehicle model, charging method, state of charge of the battery, and the connection node into the power distribution network. The proposal includes the calculation of power flows, to evaluate voltage regulation and determine the loading of power distribution lines. The results show that when electric vehicles are uncontrolled charge at the hour when the maximum demand occurs, this operating condition might affect the loading of power distribution lines causing the activation of over-current protection relays.