The Use of Electric Vehicles to Support the Needs of the Electricity Grid: A Systematic Literature Review

Abstract

The integration of electric vehicles (EVs) into the electricity grid through vehicle-to-grid (V2G) technology represents a promising opportunity to improve energy efficiency and stabilize grid operations in the context of building sustainable cities. This paper provides a systematic review of the literature to assess the status of the research and identify the road ahead. Using bibliometric analysis and systematic assessment, the critical factors that influence the charging behavior of electric vehicles, the adoption of V2G, and the effective use of EVs as dynamic energy resources are identified. The focus is particularly on the ecological transitions toward sustainability, travel characteristics, technical specifications, requirements, and barriers in real use, and the behavioral and psychological aspects of stakeholders. The results lay the foundation for accurate forecasts and the strategic implementation of V2G technology to support the needs of the electric grid. They emphasize the importance of considering the psychological and behavioral aspects of users in the design of V2G strategies and define the key factors to predict the demand for electric vehicle charging. Furthermore, they highlight the main barriers to V2G adoption, which are primarily related to concerns about battery degradation and economic issues. Privacy and security concerns, due to data sharing with electric vehicle aggregators, also limit the adoption of V2G. Addressing these challenges is essential for the successful integration of electric vehicles into the grid.