Active Charge Management of Electric Vehicles to Minimize Strain on Electricity Systems

Project overview

This research focuses on addressing an important issue in charging electric vehicles, which is the high power needed for Electric Vehicle (EV) chargers. Unlike regular home appliances using one to three kilowatts, most EV owners use "Level 2" chargers drawing seven to 12 kW. This demand stresses local power systems, unable to handle multiple 12 kW draws from homes sharing a single transformer.

This pressure can lead to reliability problems and increased infrastructure costs, impacting all electricity users, not just EV owners. It also raises fairness concerns and opposition to the shift towards electric transportation. To tackle this problem, the research explores how EV owners can adjust their charging times, reducing the burden on the electricity system.

Key project details

Principal investigator	Blake Shaffer, associate professor, Economics, University of Calgary
Co-principal investigators	Megan Bailey, assistant professor, Finance, University of Calgary; Erica Myers, associate professor, Economics, University of Calgary
Research collaborators	David Brown, Canada Research Chair in Energy Economics & Policy, University of Alberta; Frank Wolak, research associate, Stanford University
Non-academic partners	ENMAX Power
Research Keywords	electric vehicles, demand response, flexibility, electrification, managed charging, field experiment
Budget	Cash: $425,000 In-Kind: $300,000

Research focus

A detailed 3D model visualization of an urban area with various layers indicating different aspects of the built environment. The image shows a software interface with main layers and services listed on the left side, including options for 'Built Environment', 'Transport', 'Energy', 'Waste' and 'Ecosystem'.

Off-peak charging

The research explores initiatives to promote off-peak charging times, especially overnight. It also investigates dynamic strategies that align with times when plenty of renewable energy is available. This approach helps lower overall system costs and eliminates the need for additional peak power generation.

A detailed 3D model visualization of an urban area with various layers indicating different aspects of the built environment. It features a services menu with options such as 'Building Info', 'Energy Demand' and 'Network Solution'.

Coordination among vehicles

This study also examines the impact of charging time on local distribution systems. Simply shifting charging to off-peak hours may not be sufficient; therefore, coordination among vehicles is essential to prevent overloading when many high-powered chargers operate simultaneously. Modern EVs equipped with software and telemetry technology can effectively facilitate this coordination.

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