Comprehensive review of the electric vehicle impact on the distribution grid

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Journal Title

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Volume Title

Sähkötekniikan korkeakoulu | Master's thesis

Date

2022-05-16

Department

Major/Subject

Electrical Power and Energy Engineering

Mcode

ELEC3024

Degree programme

AEE - Master’s Programme in Automation and Electrical Engineering (TS2013)

Language

en

Pages

76+0

Series

Abstract

Electric vehicles (EVs) popularity has grown significantly in recent years as a result of its increased range, performance and reduced costs. However, as a result of the increased amount of charging, several implications for the current distribution networks could take place. Although the awareness of the implications has been addressed in some cases, a comprehensive review to identify the current state of the network has not been investigated. Therefore, in this thesis, a comprehensive review has been carried out to identify, compared and evaluated current research on EV charging on the distribution grid to summarise its current state in the network. This was accomplished by using a Scopus search to find the most relevant state of the art research. This is then followed by a systematic categorising of the papers. Finally, criteria regarding EV penetration level, voltage level, areas, network type, charging assumptions, as well as the methods, results and conclusions were compared and evaluated, and an average of the findings was created. According to the findings of the thesis, roughly 33\% of EV penetration can be accommodated in present networks for uncontrolled charging scenarios. Furthermore, 57\% can be accommodated with the use of controlled charging scenarios, which in most cases meant that the EVs were charging at night during the off-peak period. Overall urban areas could accommodate higher EV penetration compared to suburban for uncontrolled charging. Finally, distribution transformers and voltage drop are limiting higher EV penetration rates. An MV/LV transformer, with an average size of 580 kVA, is generally included in the networks. The housing is typically apartments in urban or suburban regions, and the simulations include an average of 908 inhabitants with EVs distributed either evenly or randomly. EVs are normally charged using a single-phase charger at continuous power of 5.52 kW for around 5.5 hours between 16:00 and 21:00 for the uncontrolled scenario and between 23:00-8:00 for the controlled scenarios and both efficiency and SoC are infrequently used in the studies examined. Controlled charging had a less overall impact on grid components. In addition, controlled techniques reduced the network losses from EV charging compared to uncontrolled charging. The total energy consumption resulting from EV charging does not appear to be the problem, but rather a capacity issue caused by simultaneous charging. Overall, the findings of the thesis strengthen the hypothesis that current distribution networks limit large-scale EV charging.

Description

Supervisor

Lehtonen, Matti

Thesis advisor

Abdelfattah, Mohamed

Keywords

electric vehicle, charging, impact, distribution grid, review, comparison

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