A large-scale high-resolution geographic analysis of impacts of electric vehicle charging on low-voltage grids

Abstract

Electric vehicles enable the decarbonization of the transportation sector. Yet, system implications of fully electrified private transportation on national low-voltage grids are still unknown. This study presents a geographic analysis of power system violations on a synthetically generated version of the Swedish low-voltage grid due to home charging of private passenger electric vehicles using different charging strategies. We link a national energy system model with a reference network model that together generate low-voltage proxy grids within each inhabited km2 of Sweden. We produce the first national coverage of electric vehicle charging impacts in residential areas. Our results show that the risk of power system violations due to electric vehicle charging are largest in cities and smaller in urban areas, while rural areas show significantly fewer violations. We also find that an electricity price optimized charging strategy primarily increases the risk of low-voltage power system violations in some city areas. In addition, we find large variations in power system violations in each of Sweden's four price areas. Direct charging is preferable in the far north while price optimized charging is preferable in the far south. The results show variations in impacts on distribution system operators from national low-cost renewable energy systems depending on their geographical location. The findings show important connections between national energy system models and local low-voltage grid violations.