Abstract

International audience; With the increasing interest in using electric vehicles (EVs) in future transportation systems, the need for deploying fast charging infrastructures becomes essential. In order to fulfil this need, it is important to anticipate EV future charging demands and requirements, and optimize their deployment. In this paper, we develop an optimization model to solve the problem of positioning fast-charging stations for EVs. The proposed model takes into account the different mobility flows and recharging demands as well as the constraints imposed by the available electric grid. In addition, the model considers the availability of alternative energy sources (i.e. photo-voltaic). For this purpose, we provide a mathematical formulation for the considered problem aiming at maximizing the covered recharging demand while respecting investment budget limits and the available capacities provided by the electric grid. Through a case study on Paris-Saclay area, we obtain the optimal locations for deploying EV charging stations as well as the number of chargers that need to be installed at each charging station. Results also highlight the benefits of integrating locally-produced photo-voltaic energy on EV recharging service.

Abstract

The increasing use of electric vehicles, combined with the trend of higher charging currents, puts a significant strain on the electrical grid. Many solutions to this problem are being discussed, some relying on some form of smart grid, others proposing stricter regulations concerning charging electric vehicles. In this study, a different approach, called randomly delayed charging, is explored. The main idea is to charge a battery over night, but instead of starting the charging process as soon as possible, introduce a random delay, satisfying the boundary condition that the battery is sufficiently charged in the morning. Benefits of this technique are investigated by using an agent-based simulation that simulates commuters and calculates the electricity demand with temporal resolution. Results suggest that randomly delayed charging can have a significant effect on peak load caused by charging and that this benefit increases the higher the used charging current is. Randomly delayed charging can be a viable option for reducing the peak electricity demand that is caused by charging electric vehicles. Document type: Article