Decentralized Greedy-Based Algorithm for Smart Energy Management in Plug-in Electric Vehicle Energy Distribution Systems

Variations in electricity tariffs arising due to stochastic demand loads on the power grids have stimulated research in finding optimal charging/discharging scheduling solutions for electric vehicles (EVs). Most of the current EV scheduling solutions are either centralized, which suffer from low reliability and high complexity, while existing decentralized solutions do not facilitate the efficient scheduling of on-move EVs in large-scale networks considering a smart energy distribution system. Motivated by smart cities applications, we consider in this paper the optimal scheduling of EVs in a geographically large-scale smart energy distribution system where EVs have the flexibility of charging/discharging at spatially-deployed smart charging stations (CSs) operated by individual aggregators. In such a scenario, we define the social welfare maximization problem as the total profit of both supply and demand sides in the form of a mixed integer non-linear programming (MINLP) model. Due to the intractability, we then propose an online decentralized algorithm with low complexity which utilizes effective heuristics to forward each EV to the most profitable CS in a smart manner. Results of simulations on the IEEE 37 bus distribution network verify that the proposed algorithm improves the social welfare by about 30% on average with respect to an alternative scheduling strategy under the equal participation of EVs in charging and discharging operations. Considering the best-case performance where only EV profit maximization is concerned, our solution also achieves upto 20% improvement in flatting the final electricity load. Furthermore, the results reveal the existence of an optimal number of CSs and an optimal vehicle-to-grid penetration threshold for which the overall profit can be maximized. Our findings serve as guidelines for V2G system designers in smart city scenarios to plan a cost-effective strategy for large-scale EVs distributed energy management

Privacy-Preserving Transactive Energy Management for IoT-aided Smart Homes via Blockchain

With the booming of smart grid, The ubiquitously deployed smart meters constitutes an energy internet of things. This paper develops a novel blockchain-based transactive energy management system for IoT-aided smart homes. We consider a holistic set of options for smart homes to participate in transactive energy. Smart homes can interact with the grid to perform vertical transactions, e.g., feeding in extra solar energy to the grid and providing demand response service to alleviate the grid load. Smart homes can also interact with peer users to perform horizontal transactions, e.g., peer-to-peer energy trading. However, conventional transactive energy management method suffers from the drawbacks of low efficiency, privacy leakage, and single-point failure. To address these challenges, we develop a privacy-preserving distributed algorithm that enables users to optimally manage their energy usages in parallel via the smart contract on the blockchain. Further, we design an efficient blockchain system tailored for IoT devices and develop the smart contract to support the holistic transactive energy management system. Finally, we evaluate the feasibility and performance of the blockchain-based transactive energy management system through extensive simulations and experiments. The results show that the blockchain-based transactive energy management system is feasible on practical IoT devices and reduces the overall cost by 25%.Comment: To appea

Federated Learning in Intelligent Transportation Systems: Recent Applications and Open Problems

Intelligent transportation systems (ITSs) have been fueled by the rapid development of communication technologies, sensor technologies, and the Internet of Things (IoT). Nonetheless, due to the dynamic characteristics of the vehicle networks, it is rather challenging to make timely and accurate decisions of vehicle behaviors. Moreover, in the presence of mobile wireless communications, the privacy and security of vehicle information are at constant risk. In this context, a new paradigm is urgently needed for various applications in dynamic vehicle environments. As a distributed machine learning technology, federated learning (FL) has received extensive attention due to its outstanding privacy protection properties and easy scalability. We conduct a comprehensive survey of the latest developments in FL for ITS. Specifically, we initially research the prevalent challenges in ITS and elucidate the motivations for applying FL from various perspectives. Subsequently, we review existing deployments of FL in ITS across various scenarios, and discuss specific potential issues in object recognition, traffic management, and service providing scenarios. Furthermore, we conduct a further analysis of the new challenges introduced by FL deployment and the inherent limitations that FL alone cannot fully address, including uneven data distribution, limited storage and computing power, and potential privacy and security concerns. We then examine the existing collaborative technologies that can help mitigate these challenges. Lastly, we discuss the open challenges that remain to be addressed in applying FL in ITS and propose several future research directions

Smart Energy Management for Smart Grids

This book is a contribution from the authors, to share solutions for a better and sustainable power grid. Renewable energy, smart grid security and smart energy management are the main topics discussed in this book

Maintenance program for Electric Vehicles power train by Reliability Centred Maintenance

The reduction of environmental pollution is one of the greatest challenges for humanity, today and for the immediate future. Air quality is one of the most critical aspects in determining people’s health, particularly in big cities, and transportation emissions are currently considered accountable for almost 32% of total air contamination. The more widespread use of green vehicles could have important effects both on the environment and the economy, and this thesis work intends to focus on reliability and maintainability of pure-electric vehicles (EVs). The main objectives of this paper are: • To conduct research into state-of -art of pure-electric car powertrain technology, describing the functions and operations of its various components: mechanical, electrical and the control links between those components are all carefully considered. • To identify and define a long term maintenance plan for the power train system, utilising the RCM method. In order to achieve these targets and objectives, a wide literature review will be conducted on existing electric vehicle technology, taking already published and available information from similar technologies which are more mature than EVs one, but with comparable run conditions and operations. The method adopted for this maintenance study is Reliability Centred Maintenance (RCM): this logic will be reviewed and applied to the powertrain system, designing and completing proper worksheets (COFA worksheet and PM task worksheet) which will form the suggested maintenance plan. This proposed plan consists of various elements including: failure modes identification, failure effects on the vehicle, criticality classification of the components, failure causes identification and suggested preventive maintenance tasks with proper periodicity. In the final part of the paper, the results and outcomes of the analysis will be discussed, and possible future developments will be identified

Electric Vehicle Charging Facility Configuration Method for Office Buildings

With the advent of advanced battery technology, EVs are gradually gaining momentum. An appropriate decision-making method for the number of charging piles is in need to meet charging needs, and concurrently, to avoid the waste of infrastructure investment. In this study, an optimal charging pile configuration method for office building parking lots is proposed. With the determination of the design period of charging facilities, a charging load prediction model is established under a collection of charging scenarios. Taking the average utilization rate of charging facilities and the average satisfaction rate of charging demand as the objective functions, the distribution of the optimal number of piles is obtained with the genetic algorithm. The benefits of the configuration method are also explored under the building demand response process. The results show that the optimal configuration of charging piles in office buildings with different volumes have similar characteristics. When the design period is 5 years and 10 years, the comprehensive indicator of the utilization rate of the charging facilities and the satisfaction rate of the charging demand can, respectively, be improved by 8.18% and 17.45%. Moreover, the reasonable scheduling strategy can realize the load regulation response with a maximum load transfer rate of 25.55%

Towards Cyber Security for Low-Carbon Transportation: Overview, Challenges and Future Directions

In recent years, low-carbon transportation has become an indispensable part as sustainable development strategies of various countries, and plays a very important responsibility in promoting low-carbon cities. However, the security of low-carbon transportation has been threatened from various ways. For example, denial of service attacks pose a great threat to the electric vehicles and vehicle-to-grid networks. To minimize these threats, several methods have been proposed to defense against them. Yet, these methods are only for certain types of scenarios or attacks. Therefore, this review addresses security aspect from holistic view, provides the overview, challenges and future directions of cyber security technologies in low-carbon transportation. Firstly, based on the concept and importance of low-carbon transportation, this review positions the low-carbon transportation services. Then, with the perspective of network architecture and communication mode, this review classifies its typical attack risks. The corresponding defense technologies and relevant security suggestions are further reviewed from perspective of data security, network management security and network application security. Finally, in view of the long term development of low-carbon transportation, future research directions have been concerned.Comment: 34 pages, 6 figures, accepted by journal Renewable and Sustainable Energy Review

A Smart Charging Assistant for Electric Vehicles Considering Battery Degradation, Power Grid and User Constraints

Der Anstieg intermittierender Stromerzeugung aus erneuerbaren Energiequellen erschwert zunehmend einen effizienten und zuverlässigen Betrieb der Versorgungsnetze. Gleichzeitig steigt die Zahl der Elektrofahrzeuge, die zum Aufladen erhebliche Mengen an elektrischer Energie benötigen, rapide an. Energie- und Mobilitätssektor sind somit unweigerlich miteinander verbunden, was zur Folge hat, dass zuverlässige Elektromobilität von einer robusten Stromversorgung abhängt. Darüber hinaus empfinden Fahrzeugnutzer ihre individuelle Mobilität als eingeschränkt, da Elektrofahrzeuge im Vergleich zu Fahrzeugen mit Verbrennungsmotor derzeit eine geringere Reichweite aufweisen und mehr Zeit zum Aufladen benötigen. In der vorliegenden Arbeit wird daher ein neuartiges Konzept sowie eine Softwareanwendung (Ladeassistent) vorgestellt, die den Nutzer beim Laden seines Elektrofahrzeuges unterstützt und dabei die Interessen aller beteiligten Akteure berücksichtigt. Dafür werden zunächst Gestaltungsmerkmale möglicher Softwarearchitekturen verglichen, um eine geeignete Struktur von Modulen und deren Verknüpfung zu definieren. Anschließend werden anhand realer Daten sowohl Energieverbrauchs- als auch Batteriemodelle entwickelt, verbessert und validiert, welche die Fahr- und Ladeeigenschaften von Elektrofahrzeugen abbilden. Die wichtigsten Beiträge dieser Arbeit resultieren aus der Entwicklung und Validierung der folgenden drei Kernkomponenten des Ladeassistenten. Als Erstes wird das individuelle Mobilitätsverhalten der Nutzer modelliert und anhand von aufgezeichneten und halbsynthetischen Fahrdaten von Elektrofahrzeugen ausgewertet. Insbesondere wird ein neuartiger, zweistufiger Clustering-Algorithmus entwickelt, um häufig besuchte Orte der Nutzer zu ermitteln. Anschließend werden Ensembles von Random-Forest-Modellen verwendet, um die nächsten Aufenthaltsorte und die dort typischen Parkzeiten vorherzusagen. Als Zweites wird gemischt-ganzzahlige stochastische Optimierung angewandt, um Ladestopps in einem zukünftigen Zeithorizont möglichst komfortabel und kostengünstig zu planen. Dabei wird ein graphenbasierter Algorithmus eingesetzt, um den Energiebedarf und die Eintrittswahrscheinlichkeit von Mobilitätsszenarien eines Elektrofahrzeugnutzers zu quantifizieren. Zur Validierung werden zwei alternative Ladestrategien definiert und mit dem vorgeschlagenen System verglichen. Als Drittes wird ein nichtlineares Optimierungsschema entwickelt, um vorhandene Zeit- und Energieflexibilität in Ladevorgängen von Elektrofahrzeugen zu nutzen. Die Integration eines detaillierten Batteriemodells ermöglicht eine genaue Quantifizierung der Kosteneinsparungen aufgrund einer geringeren Batteriealterung und dynamischer Stromtarife. Anhand von Daten aus realen Ladevorgängen von Elektrofahrzeugen können Einflüsse auf die Rentabilität von Vehicle-to-Grid-Anwendungen herausgearbeitet werden. Aus der Umsetzung des vorgestellten Ansatzes in einer realistischen Umgebung geht ein Architekturentwurf und ein Kommunikationskonzept für optimierungsbasierte intelligente Ladesysteme hervor. Dabei werden weitere Herausforderungen im Zusammenhang mit standardisierter Ladekommunikation, Eingriffen der Energieversorger und Nutzerakzeptanz aufgedeckt