The impact of charging strategies for electric vehicles on power distribution networks

This work investigates four different generic charging strategies for battery electric vehicles (BEVs) with respect to their economic performance and their impact on the local power distribution network of a residential area in southern Germany. The charging strategies are Simple Charging (uncontrolled), Smart Charging (cost minimal), Vehicle to Grid Charging (V2G) and Heuristic V2G Charging. The simulation setting includes a high share of local renewable generation as well as typical residential load patterns to which different penetration levels of BEVs are added for the evaluation. Prices are determined on a regional energy market with agents representing the participating households (including PV generation and BEVs) as well as the traditional supply for the local power distribution network via the point of common coupling (PCC). Results show that Smart and V2G Charging lead to cost reductions for electric mobility of 40 % or 75% respectively per week and household. At the same time additional stress is put on the distribution network which shows a need for further coordination of BEV charging.