A linear optimization approach for electric vehicles charging

Recently, electric vehicles (EVs) are qualified to be one of the indispensable solutions for green transport and environmental challenges. As the number of EVs sold steadily increases in the automobile market, charging infrastructures should be further developed and sophisticated. Reducing charging times of EVs is one of the major challenges for public charging stations. This challenge can be met by increasing the rate of power transferred to the EVs. However, there are other methods proposed in the literature for reducing charging times while ensuring maximum charging rates. In this paper, we propose an optimization algorithm in order to assign optimally and adequately a fleet of EVs to charging stations. This approach provides a solution to both minimize the energy consumption by EVs while reaching adequate charging stations. Each EV assignment takes into account the constraints of vehicles, charging stations and the traffic situation on the roads. With the proposed solution we keep the in-vehicle battery state of charge (SOC) to its highest level (maximum level) when reaching its destination. Consequently, this charging approach allows to reduce charging times and therefore reduce the time spent within charging stations.