System Planning of Grid-Connected Electric Vehicle Charging Stations and Key Technologies: A Review

Abstract

The optimal planning of electric vehicle (EV) charging stations (ECSs) with advanced control algorithms is very important to accelerate the development of EVs, which is a promising solution to reduce carbon emissions of conventional internal combustion engine vehicles (ICEVs). The large and fluctuant load currents of ECSs can bring negative impacts to both EV-related power converters and power distribution systems if the energy flow is not regulated properly. Recent review papers related to EVs found in open literature have mainly focused on the design of power converter-based chargers and power interfaces, analyses of power quality (PQ) issues, the development of wireless charging techniques, etc. There is currently no review paper that focuses on key technologies in various system configurations, optimal energy management and advanced control issues in practical applications. To compensate for this insufficiency and provide timely research directions, this paper reviews 143 previously published papers related to the aforementioned topics in recent literature including 17 EV-related review papers found in Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE)/Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET) (IEEE/IET) Electronic Library (IEL) and ScienceDirect OnSite (SDOS) databases. In this paper, existing system configurations, related design methods, algorithms and key technologies for ECSs are systematically reviewed. Based on discussions given in the reviewed papers, the most popular ECS configuration is a hybrid system design that integrates renewable energy (RE)-based power generation (REBPG), various energy storage systems (ESSs), and utility grids. It is noteworthy that the addition of an ESS with properly designed control algorithms can simultaneously buffer the fast, fluctuant power demand during charging, smooth the intermittent power generation of REBPG, and increase the overall efficiency and operating flexibility of ECSs. In addition, verifying the significance of the flexibility and possible profits that portable ESSs provide in ECS networks is a potential research theme in ECS fields, in which the potential applications of portable ESSs in the grid-tied ECSs are numerous and could cover a full technical spectrum.

Fleet Transition from Combustion to Electric Vehicles: A Case Study in a Portuguese Business Campus

“…A technological survey to grid-connected charging stations is present in [39]. The authors systematically reviewed more than 170 papers, focusing in the existing system configurations, optimization and design methods, algorithms and key technologies.…”

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“…A central controller is also required in the system to establish the power flow and activation of the power converters based on different constraints, e.g., minimum charging cost, maximum profit, etc. [13,[35][36][37]. The use of a bidirectional inverter in the AC grid stage, as shown in Figure 4, will allow the transfer of excess power from the PV array to the AC grid throughout the sunny hours of the day.…”

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“…In [41], a holistic framework has been developed for the planning and operation of an EV charging station, taking into consideration the supply of both the grid and local renewable energy. A review on system planning of grid-connected EV CSs and key technologies can be found in [42]. Various charging methodologies are further analyzed in [43].…”