A Method for Maximizing the Hosting Capacity to Electric Vehicles using Feeder Reconfiguration

This paper proposes a method to maximize the hosting capacity of distribution systems (DSs) to electric vehicles (EVs) at public charging stations based on reliability-constrained optimal feeder reconfiguration. Developing strategies to maximize the hosting capacity of DSs to EVs while maintaining their reliability has become more important than ever before. The proposed method is developed based on genetic algorithms and a linearized network model in order to expedite the solution process. Also, a graph theory-based method is developed to retain the radial structure of distribution systems. The number of cars and statuses of sectionalizing and tie-switches are used as variables to determine the optimal or near-optimal configuration. Monte Carlo simulations are performed to estimate the expected demand not supplied (EDNS) reliability index and the energy index of reliability (EIR)-EIR is used as a measure for distribution system reliability. The proposed method is demonstrated on the 33-bus power distribution system, which has been widely utilized in the literature for the optimal feeder reconfiguration. The results show that feeder reconfiguration can significantly increase the hosting capacity of distribution systems to EVs.