Optimization methods for developing electric vehicle charging strategies

Electric vehicles (EVs) are considered to be a crucial and proactive player in the future for transport electrification, energy transition, and emission reduction, as promoted by policy-makers, relevant industries, and the academia. EV charging would account for a non-negligible share in the future electricity demand. The integration of EV brings both challenges and opportunities to the electricity system, mainly from their charging profiles. When EV charging behaviors are uncontrolled, their potentially high charging rate and synchronous charging patterns may result in the bottleneck of the grid capacity and the shortage of generation ramping capacity. However, the promising load shifting potential of EVs can alleviate these problems and even bring additional flexibilities to the demand side for further applications, such as peak shaving and the integration of renewable energy. To grasp these opportunities, novel controlled charging strategies should be developed to help integrate electric vehicles into energy systems. However, corresponding methods in current literature often have customized assumptions or settings so that they might not be practically or widely applied. Furthermore, the attention of literature is more paid to explaining the results of the methods or making consequent policy recommendations, but not sufficiently paid to demonstrating the methods themselves. The lack of the latter might undermine the credibility of the work and hinder readers’ understanding. Therefore, this thesis serves as a methodological framework in response to the fundamental and universal challenges in developing charging strategies for integrating EV into energy systems. The discussions aim to raise readers’ awareness of the essential but often unnoticed concerns in model development and hopefully would enlighten future researchers into this topic. Specifically, this cumulative thesis comprises four papers and analyzes the research topic from two perspectives. With Paper A and Paper B, the micro perspective of the thesis is more applied and focuses on the successful implementation of charging scheduling solutions for each EV individually. Paper A proposes a two-stage scenario-based stochastic linear programming model to schedule EV charging behaviors and considers the uncertainties from future EVs. The model is calculated in a rolling window fashion with updated parameters. Scenario generation for future EVs is simulated by inhomogeneous Markov chains, and scenario reduction is achieved by a fast forward selection method to reduce the computational burden. The objective function is formulated as variance minimization so that the model can be flexibly implemented for various applications. Paper B applies the model proposed in Paper A to investigate how the generation of a wind turbine could be correlated with the EV controlled charging demand. An empirical controlled charging strategy is designed for comparison where EVs would charge as much as possible when wind generation is sufficient or would postpone charging otherwise. Although these two controlled charging strategies perform similarly in terms of wind energy utilization, the solutions from the proposed model could additionally alleviate the volatility of wind energy generation by matching the EV charging curve to the electricity generation profile. With Paper C and Paper D, the macro perspective of the thesis is more explorative and investigates how EVs as a whole would contribute to energy transition or emission reduction. Paper C investigates the greenhouse gas emissions of EVs under different charging strategies in Europe in 2050. Methodologically, the paper proposes an EV module that enables different EV controlled charging strategies to be endogenously determined by energy system models. The paper concludes that EVs would contribute to a 36% emission reduction on the European level even under an uncontrolled charging strategy. Unidirectional and bidirectional controlled charging strategies could further reduce emissions by 4% and 11%, respectively, compared with the original level. As a follow-up study of Paper C, Paper D develops, demonstrates, improves, and compares three different types of EV aggregation methods for integrating an EV module into energy system models. The analysis and demonstration of these methods are achieved by having a simplified energy system model as a testbed and the results from the individual EV modeling method as the benchmark. As different EV aggregation methods share the same data set as for the individual EV modeling method, the disturbance from parameters is minimized, and the influence from mathematical formulations is highlighted. These EV aggregation methods are compared from multiple aspects

A comprehensive study of key Electric Vehicle (EV) components, technologies, challenges, impacts, and future direction of development

Abstract: Electric vehicles (EV), including Battery Electric Vehicle (BEV), Hybrid Electric Vehicle (HEV), Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle (PHEV), Fuel Cell Electric Vehicle (FCEV), are becoming more commonplace in the transportation sector in recent times. As the present trend suggests, this mode of transport is likely to replace internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles in the near future. Each of the main EV components has a number of technologies that are currently in use or can become prominent in the future. EVs can cause significant impacts on the environment, power system, and other related sectors. The present power system could face huge instabilities with enough EV penetration, but with proper management and coordination, EVs can be turned into a major contributor to the successful implementation of the smart grid concept. There are possibilities of immense environmental benefits as well, as the EVs can extensively reduce the greenhouse gas emissions produced by the transportation sector. However, there are some major obstacles for EVs to overcome before totally replacing ICE vehicles. This paper is focused on reviewing all the useful data available on EV configurations, battery energy sources, electrical machines, charging techniques, optimization techniques, impacts, trends, and possible directions of future developments. Its objective is to provide an overall picture of the current EV technology and ways of future development to assist in future researches in this sector

Development of the Plug-in Electric Vehicle Charging Infrastructure via Smart-Charging Algorithms

Electricity generation and the transportation sector make up a large portion of greenhouse gas emissions in the United States. Meeting ambitious reductions in greenhouse gasses requires large scale adoption of plug-in electric vehicles (PEVs) and has led to several policies and laws aimed at incentivizing PEV sales. An inadequate charging infrastructure, however, could be a major obstacle for a large-scale adoption of PEVs. Large electrical demands from PEVs could negatively affect circuitry, increase electricity costs, and exacerbate stress to local electrical components during times of high electricity usage. These issues, however, can be addressed by deploying smart-charging strategies.This work is focused on the development of smart-charging protocols for workplace battery electric vehicle (BEV) charging. Three comprehensive smart-charging protocols with different applications are proposed. Each protocol is developed with varying degrees of focus on communication requirements and privacy concerns. The BEV-based Optimization Protocol is a decentralized, non-iterative strategy that allows BEVs to individually schedule their charging schedules. The Octopus Charger-based MILP Protocol allows octopus chargers (i.e., charging stations with multiple cables) to independently schedule charging for their assigned BEVs. The Real-Time Octopus Charger-based MILP Protocol allows octopus chargers to schedule BEV charging in real time, without prior information from BEVs. By using the appropriate cost signal and assignment algorithms, the proposed protocols can manage a parking structure demand load while reducing the number of installed charging stations. Driving patterns from the National Household Travel Survey were used to perform simulations, to verify and quantify the effectiveness of each protocol. The proposed protocols resulted in improved peak load reductions for all simulated smart-charging scenarios, when compared with uncontrolled charging. By using octopus chargers, all protocols were able to reduce the number of charging stations needed at parking structures, while meeting the charging requests of all BEVs. Time-Of-Use rate plans from Southern California Edison were used to estimate monthly electricity costs for the simulated parking structures. The smart-charging protocols resulted in reduced electricity costs for most cases studied, when compared to uncontrolled charging

Practice and Innovations in Sustainable Transport

The book continues with an experimental analysis conducted to obtain accurate and complete information about electric vehicles in different traffic situations and road conditions. For the experimental analysis in this study, three different electric vehicles from the Edinburgh College leasing program were equipped and tracked to obtain over 50 GPS and energy consumption data for short distance journeys in the Edinburgh area and long-range tests between Edinburgh and Bristol. In the following section, an adaptive and robust square root cubature Kalman filter based on variational Bayesian approximation and Huber’s M-estimation is proposed to accurately estimate state of charge (SOC), which is vital for safe operation and efficient management of lithium-ion batteries. A coupled-inductor DC-DC converter with a high voltage gain is proposed in the following section to match the voltage of a fuel cell stack to a DC link bus. Finally, the book presents a review of the different approaches that have been proposed by various authors to mitigate the impact of electric buses and electric taxis on the future smart grid

Electric vehicles in Smart Grids: Performance considerations

Distributed power system is the basic architecture of current power systems and demands close cooperation among the generation, transmission and distribution systems. Excessive greenhouse gas emissions over the last decade have driven a move to a more sustainable energy system. This has involved integrating renewable energy sources like wind and solar power into the distributed generation system. Renewable sources offer more opportunities for end users to participate in the power delivery system and to make this distribution system even more efficient, the novel Smart Grid concept has emerged. A Smart Grid: offers a two-way communication between the source and the load; integrates renewable sources into the generation system; and provides reliability and sustainability in the entire power system from generation through to ultimate power consumption. Unreliability in continuous production poses challenges for deploying renewable sources in a real-time power delivery system. Different storage options could address this unreliability issue, but they consume electrical energy and create signifcant costs and carbon emissions. An alternative is using electric vehicles and plug-in electric vehicles, with two-way power transfer capability (Grid-to-Vehicle and Vehicle-to-Grid), as temporary distributed energy storage devices. A perfect fit can be charging the vehicle batteries from the renewable sources and discharging the batteries when the grid needs them the most. This will substantially reduce carbon emissions from both the energy and the transportation sector while enhancing the reliability of using renewables. However, participation of these vehicles into the grid discharge program is understandably limited by the concerns of vehicle owners over the battery lifetime and revenue outcomes. A major challenge is to find ways to make vehicle integration more effective and economic for both the vehicle owners and the utility grid. This research addresses problems such as how to increase the average lifetime of vehicles while discharging to the grid; how to make this two-way power transfer economically viable; how to increase the vehicle participation rate; and how to make the whole system more reliable and sustainable. Different methods and techniques are investigated to successfully integrate the electric vehicles into the power system. This research also investigates the economic benefits of using the vehicle batteries in their second life as energy storage units thus reducing storage energy costs for the grid operators, and creating revenue for the vehicle owners

Analysis, Development And Design For Early Fault Detection And Fire Safety In Lithium-Ion Battery Technology

Energy storage technologies in its natural form play a key role in the electrical infrastructure, renewable and mobility industry. This form includes the material nomenclature for cell. technology, battery module design, Battery enclosure system design, control, and communication strategy, chemistry profile of various cell technologies, formation and formfactors of cell structure, electrical and mechanical properties of a lithium-ion cell, behavior of the cell under high voltage, low voltage, elevated temperature and lower temperature, multiple charging of a lithium-ion batteries. Energy storage industry is growing rapidly, and the industry is experiencing an unprecedented safety concern and issues in terms of fire and explosion at cell and system level. There has been. other research conducted with proposed theories and recommendations to resolve these issues. The failure modes for energy storage systems can be derived using different methodologies such as failure mode effects analysis (FMEA). Early detection mode and strategies in lithium-ion batteries to overcome the failure modes can be caused by endothermic reaction in the cell, further protection. devices, fire inhibition and ventilation. Endothermic safety involves modifications of materials in anode, cathode, and electrolyte. Chemical components added to the battery electrolyte improve the characteristics helping in the improvement of solid-electrolyte interphase and stability. Traditional energy storage system protection device fuse at the cell level, and contactors at the rack level and circuit breakers, current interrupt devices, and positive temperature coefficient devices at the system level. This research will employ classical experimental methods to explore, review and evaluate all the five main energy technologies and narrow down to electrochemical energy storage technologies. with the two main market ready lithium-ion battery technology (LiFePO4/ G and NMC/G) technology cells and why are they valuable in the energy storage and E-mobility space. Also, will focus on the electrical, mechanical design, testing of the battery module into a rack system, advancements in battery chemistries, relevant modes, mechanisms of potential failures, and early detection strategies to overcome these failures. Finally, how the problems of fires, safety concerns and difficulty in transporting already fully assembled energy storage systems can be resolved and be demystified in lithium-ion technology. Keywords Control strategy, Energy storage system, electrolyte, failure mode, early detection, Lithium-Ion cell technology, Battey system