Investigation of the impact of electric vehicles charging in the electric power distribution systems performance

Abstract

The Internal Combustion Engines (ICEs) used for mobile propulsion in vehicles strongly contributes to air pollution. Consequently, the electric vehicles (EVs) represent an important alternative to decrease the fossil fuel consumption and the emissions associated to this consumption. Until 2020, it is expected that all around the world 25% of all vehicles sales will be associated to electric vehicles. These vehicles use batteries that must be periodically recharged and such charges may be performed in "electric charging stations" or even at home, representing a strong increase in residential customers consumption. The individual consumption of these batteries may be, for instance, equivalent or greater than an electric shower connected by hours. As a result, the increase in electric vehicles sales may impact distribution system voltage profile, unbalance and may overload the service transformers, for example. In this context, this scientific initiation project proposes an investigation of the impact of the increase in electric vehicles as residential loads on distribution system voltage profile and transformer overload. This investigation will be based on several load flow studies and the results will guide the utilities in the selection of a proper charging strategy.