Hosting capability assessment and enhancement of electric vehicles in electricity distribution networks

Abstract

With the popularization of electric vehicles (EVs) and the development of home EV charging technology, the safety and economy of electricity distribution network operations are greatly challenged. This paper first establishes a simulation method for EV charging considering the usage habits of EV owners. Subsequently, the EV hosting capacity of the electricity distribution network is defined and determined based on an optimal power flow model, which is integrated with the three-phase power flow equation constraint, and inequality constraints including both rigid and flexible constraints. Furthermore, enhancement strategies based on multiple aspects of the electricity distribution network are also analyzed and proposed. Case tests are performed to verify the feasibility and advantages of the proposed models and strategies. According to the simulation results, with the increasing of EVs, the line carrying capacity and load peak-valley characteristics become the primary factors limiting the hosting capacity of the electricity distribution network for EVs, and the proposed strategies are analyzed for their strengthening effect on different segments of the distribution network.