A critical review of the effect of light duty electric vehicle charging on the power grid

Abstract

Electric vehicles (EVs) have emerged as one of the alternative solutions for reducing carbon emissions in the road transportation sector. In the near future, more and more EVs will be integrated into the electric grid. These increasing EVs, mainly light-duty EVs, are appearing as an extensive power-consuming load within the power grid system. Unplanned introduction and abrupt adoption of charging stations can hinder the smooth operation of the power distribution system and bring serious technical challenges such as power quality, voltage fluctuations, harmonic injection, battery degradation, and grid instability. Light-duty EV integration and its effects on power grids, including grid access capabilities and power system planning, are the main focus of this review. Therefore, this paper analyzes and summarizes the potential issues and solutions in terms of power system characteristics and planning, grid economy, and environment in order to explore the impact of EV charging on the power system network. Moreover, in terms of coordination and speed, several charging schemes and infrastructure configurations for EV charging are evaluated. Various implementation strategies and concepts, such as the smart charging approach and optimal location selection, are also presented. Furthermore, this paper outlines potential directions for future research studies as well as additional suggestions for improving grid infrastructure and achieving win-win outcomes for both grid operators and customers.

Keywords

• Electric vehicle
• Grid stability
• Power quality
• Harmonics
• Distribution network