Harmonics Measurement, Analysis, and Impact Assessment of Electric Vehicle Smart Charging

Smart charging for Electric Vehicles (EVs) is gaining traction as a key solution to alleviate grid congestion, delay the need for costly network upgrades, and capitalize on off-peak electricity rates. Governments are now enforcing the inclusion of smart charging capabilities in EV charging stations to facilitate this transition. While much of the current research focuses on managing voltage profiles, there is a growing need to examine harmonic emissions in greater detail. This study presents comprehensive data on harmonic distortion during the smart charging of eight popular EV models. We conducted an experimental analysis, measuring harmonic levels with charging current increments of 1A, ranging from the minimum to the maximum for each vehicle. The analysis compared harmonic emissions from both single and multiple EV charging scenarios against the thresholds for total harmonic distortion (THD) and individual harmonic limits outlined in power quality standards (e.g. IEC). Monte Carlo simulations were employed to further understand the behavior in multi-vehicle scenarios. The results reveal that harmonic distortion increases as the charging current decreases across both single and multiple vehicle charging instances. In case studies where several vehicles charge simultaneously, the findings show that as more EVs charge together, harmonic cancellation effects become more pronounced, leading to a gradual reduction in overall harmonic distortion. However, under worst-case conditions, the aggregate current THD can rise as high as 25%, with half of the tested vehicles surpassing the individual harmonic limits.