Electric Vehicle Charging with Renewable Energy Integration
Lead Research Organisation:
Durham University
Department Name: Engineering
Abstract
This project will build on previous research in the topic of electric vehicle (EV) charging and renewable energy integration. The aim is to expand understanding and to further knowledge in this area to explore novel approaches to of electric vehicle charging to help increase uptake of EVs among the population of the UK to meet Government and car manufacturer targets.
Range anxiety is still one of the main factors putting potential customers off from buying an electric vehicle, as if used regularly for trips of any significant length, it is likely that the car may need to be charged every day or two to avoid a low charge situation. In addition to this, 8 out of 10 drivers see the lack of charging stations to be a major issue when buying a new electric vehicle (AA Survey). To combat this, the government is proposing that all new build homes and offices should have an electric vehicle charging point fitted as standard. However, as a large proportion of the population must park on the road or away from their house, this means that this is not a viable option for everyone. Other solutions are being trialled around the country, including converting lampposts to charge cars on the street, however none of these solutions are perfect.
The issue of EV charging and renewable energy integration is a broad and multifaceted problem that has no easy single solutions. Rather, many different solutions are required that can then work together to help provide a solution for the overall problem. Targeting the workplace charging for commuters is a particularly interesting potential solution, partly because of the fact that it doesn't require a change in driver behaviour - they are just driving to work and parking as normal - and also because of the possibility of being able to provide a better service than they could receive at home, including better charger availability, increased charging speed, increased environmentally friendliness or discounted charging costs.
A number of key areas surrounding the topic of electric vehicle charging and renewable energy have been selected initially as looking promising for further research as part of the PhD studies. These have been divided into four sections: 1). Literature review and background studies, 2). System architecture design, 3). Charging navigation system design, 4). The use of artificial intelligence for route planning.
Range anxiety is still one of the main factors putting potential customers off from buying an electric vehicle, as if used regularly for trips of any significant length, it is likely that the car may need to be charged every day or two to avoid a low charge situation. In addition to this, 8 out of 10 drivers see the lack of charging stations to be a major issue when buying a new electric vehicle (AA Survey). To combat this, the government is proposing that all new build homes and offices should have an electric vehicle charging point fitted as standard. However, as a large proportion of the population must park on the road or away from their house, this means that this is not a viable option for everyone. Other solutions are being trialled around the country, including converting lampposts to charge cars on the street, however none of these solutions are perfect.
The issue of EV charging and renewable energy integration is a broad and multifaceted problem that has no easy single solutions. Rather, many different solutions are required that can then work together to help provide a solution for the overall problem. Targeting the workplace charging for commuters is a particularly interesting potential solution, partly because of the fact that it doesn't require a change in driver behaviour - they are just driving to work and parking as normal - and also because of the possibility of being able to provide a better service than they could receive at home, including better charger availability, increased charging speed, increased environmentally friendliness or discounted charging costs.
A number of key areas surrounding the topic of electric vehicle charging and renewable energy have been selected initially as looking promising for further research as part of the PhD studies. These have been divided into four sections: 1). Literature review and background studies, 2). System architecture design, 3). Charging navigation system design, 4). The use of artificial intelligence for route planning.
Organisations
| Description | A novel approach introducing Network Impact Tokens has been developed to manage the use of a low-voltage electrical distribution network and ensure that baseload, EV charging or renewable generation does not cause the network to exceed any of its power, current or voltage. The tokens can be traded over a peer-to-peer market which enables each house to manage its own energy consumption and generation in real-time without exceeding network limits and requiring no real-time monitoring of the network. The approach was then utilised in a novel method for Distribution Network Operators to be able to analyse their low-voltage networks to determine the maximum percentage of houses which could accommodate EV charging before any network limits are exceeded. This allows DNOs to assess the readiness of their networks for accommodating increasing numbers of electric vehicles and analyse the effects of seasonality, increasing renewable energy generation or storage and upgrades to network hardware on the maximum number of electric vehicles that can be accommodated. |
| Exploitation Route | The peer-to-peer trading of Network Impact Tokens offers an extremely promising approach for power management in a network, overcoming several of the limitations of existing work. However, for implementation it would require greater ability for a house to predict its energy consumption and renewable energy generation in the next 10 minute period, to ensure the correct numbers of tokens are traded. |
| Sectors | Energy |