Electric Vehicle Users Research Articles

How grid reinforcement costs differ by the income of electric vehicle users

The simultaneous charging of many electric vehicles in future mobility scenarios may lead to peaks and overloads threatening grid stability. The necessary infrastructure investments vary by the number and model type of vehicles driven and the residents’ charging preferences. These attributes significantly depend on socio-economic factors such as income. Using power flow simulations based on real-life driving profiles, we predict massive cost asymmetries with an investment demand up to 33-fold in higher-income compared to lower-income neighborhoods. Many grid operators may redistribute these costs through an across-the-board electricity price increase for all households. In times of rising electricity prices, these unwanted inequitable costing allocations could lead to severe challenges and energy poverty. Policymakers should consider countermeasures like dynamic electricity pricing schemes, income-based electric vehicle subsidies, or improved charging network access to ensure energy equity in future mobility scenarios. Our analysis of the impact of socio-economic factors on electric vehicle grid infrastructure and their quantification contributes to the energy equity discussion.

Predicting Electric Vehicle Charging Demand in Residential Areas Using POI Data and Decision‐Making Model

Transport electrification is a crucial element of the ongoing energy transition, essential for achieving carbon peaking and carbon neutrality goals. The proliferation of electric vehicles (EVs) introduces significant challenges to power distribution network stability due to their aggregated charging load in residential areas, particularly during peak electricity consumption periods. This paper proposes a method to predict the spatiotemporal distribution of EV charging demand in residential areas using geographic information points of interest (POI) data features and a decision‐making model. Utilizing real historical data, probability distribution models for EV users' arrival times and charging characteristics were constructed using Gaussian Mixture Models (GMM). The spatiotemporal characteristics of EV travel and charging behaviors were analyzed, and a comprehensive charging decision model incorporating both emergency and stochastic scenarios was developed. The model's efficacy in capturing the probability distributions of characteristic variables was validated through a case study. The results demonstrate the model's potential for accurately predicting EV charging demand, providing valuable insights for infrastructure planning and resource allocation. © 2024 Institute of Electrical Engineers of Japan and Wiley Periodicals LLC.

Using Statewide Transportation Planning Model to Forecast Demand for Electric Vehicle Charging at Stations Along Intercity Highways

The availability of Charging Stations (CSs) with adequate capacity is critical for the growth in ownership and usage of Electric Vehicles (EVs). In the United States, the state Departments of Transportation (DOTs) are responsible for planning CSs along the Interstate, national, and state highways. While the state DOTs have their Statewide Transportation Planning Models (STPMs), most of these models do not represent EVs internally. The state DOTs can only rely on the existing STPMs to forecast the demand for EV charging at specific CS locations in a state’s highway network. This research proposes a methodology that utilizes an existing STPM, EV and non-EV vehicle registration data, and hourly traffic volumes at strategic counting stations to predict the hourly demand for EV charging (charging port occupancy) at proposed CSs. This approach first estimates the volume of all passenger cars that will pass the vicinity of a CS along intercity highways, and identifies the Traffic Analysis Zones (TAZs) of their trip origins. Based on the EV adoption rates of the TAZs, EV range, and EV owner’s charging behavior, the methodology forecasts the volume of EVs that pass the vicinity of a CS and the number of EVs that will stop at the CS to charge every hour of the day. An example problem demonstrated the application of the methodology in the State of Texas. It not only forecasted the hourly occupancy at CSs along three major corridors, but also demonstrated how to determine the capacities of the CSs. The challenges of using the existing STPM and their solutions are discussed. This proposed methodology enables the state DOTs to forecast the demand for EV charging and the capacities at the proposed CSs along intercity highways, thus allowing the DOTs to apply for federal funds to accelerate the deployment of the CSs. (298 words)

Multi-objective model for electric vehicle charging station location selection problem for a sustainable transportation infrastructure

The transportation industry mostly depends on conventional vehicles, leading to significant adverse effects on the environment. The widespread usage of electric vehicles can be seen as a relief for this problem. However, the success of electric vehicles largely depends on the availability and proper deployment of charging station infrastructure. It is crucial for cities to strategically select suitable locations for charging stations with adequate capacity levels to promote sustainable and environmentally-friendly transportation options. Hence, in this study, a multi-objective model is proposed for the electric vehicle charging station location selection and capacity allocation problem. The model aims to maximize customer satisfaction, minimize total risk, and minimize costs as key objective functions. To manage the demand effectively, the region of interest is divided into grids. The proposed multi-objective model is applied to the European side of Istanbul and solved by using AUGMECON2 technique. Finally, computational analyses are presented based on scenarios including different demand values. These analyses provide valuable insights into the effectiveness of the proposed model and its implications for achieving sustainable transportation in Istanbul.

A clustering method for charging behaviors of electric vehicle users based on an improved k-means algorithm

Abstract The uncertainty of Electric vehicle users’ (EVUs) charging behaviors affect the power grid safety. Therefore, mining the charging behavior characteristics of EVUs can help the power grid to make optimal operation plans previously to smooth the load curve and improve stability. In this regard, a clustering strategy for EVUs is proposed, using an improved K-means algorithm based on the minimum variance theory(MVT). Additionally, the Monte Carlo algorithm is utilized to obtain the simulation results of EVUs. Finally, a numerical simulation based on actual data in China is established to validate the effectiveness and reliability of the proposed cluster algorithm. The results indicate that the proposed cluster algorithm can accurately extract the characteristics of EVUs’ off-on grid behaviors and obtain the accurate daily charging demand representing the main charging rules among EVUs. The proposed algorithm results in a reduction of 69.2% of solution time compared to the traditional K-means algorithm.

Electric vehicles charging infrastructure framework using internet of things

Electric vehicles (EVs) sales have grown rapidly recently, and more growth is expected over the coming years. A challenging problem arises when managing different battery requirements of moving EVs through reliable Charging Stations (CSs). Current concerns for EV users are long waiting lines at CSs and dropping below a predefined battery capacity limit. For this reason, this paper proposes an Internet of Things (IoT)-based EV charging scheduling system, which with the use of IoT technologies, decides the optimal assignment between EVs and Charging Points (CPs) located at different CSs at given time t. By using cloud computing and real time data such as number of EVs, number of CSs, number of CPs at different CSs … etc; the scheduling controller uses a recursive algorithm to generate all possible scenarios, and then shares the optimal assignment (that minimizes the average waiting time and fulfill battery constraints and charging needs) with all EVs. To test the validity of the IOT based scheduling system, sensitivity analysis by running different scenarios (pertaining to different parameters) was conducted. The different scenarios were compared to a base scenario where the system was not used and real-life random assignment is considered. The different run scenarios show superiority over the base scenario in terms of average waiting time (WT) and battery capacity threshold. For example, in the base scenario, violation of battery capacity threshold occurred 9.1% of the time, making random selection an unreliable choice versus no violations when the IOT scheduling system is used. Also, all tested scenarios under the IOT scheduling system show shorter average WT compared to the base scenario. For instance, scenarios 2 and 3 show more than 35% and 55% decrease in WT compared to the base scenario.

Connecting Electric Vehicle Users with Charging Station Vendors: A Mobile Application Solution

Connecting Electric Vehicle Users with Charging Station Vendors: A Mobile Application Solution

Heterogeneity in electric taxi charging behavior: Association with travel service characteristics

A comprehensive understanding of charging behaviors among electric vehicle users is crucial for advancing green transportation and deploying effective charging infrastructure. This study conducted large-scale empirical research using data from electric taxi fleets in Shenzhen to explore the heterogeneity of charging behaviors among taxi drivers. The study hypothesized that distinct charging patterns exist within the electric taxi fleet, impacting fleet-wide fluctuations and repetitions of charging and service activities. Employing a covariate-enhanced latent profile analysis model, we examined unique charging patterns within the fleet and investigated relationships between taxi service attributes and charging behavior heterogeneity. Fleet-wide diurnal fluctuations, daily repetitions, and subgroup-specific charging patterns were identified. At the micro level, operational activity sequence similarity and between-group diversity were assessed. The findings offer valuable insights for policymakers and stakeholders involved in promoting green transportation and optimizing charging infrastructure.

A privacy protection scheme to resist ring selection attack in peer-to-peer double auction V2V electricity transaction for charging stations

With the development of Electric Vehicles (EVs), the number of public charging piles cannot meet the immediate charging needs of EV users sometimes. The charging stations provide flexible electricity transaction schemes for users by managing charging piles and Vehicle-to-Vehicle (V2V). Users can freely choose transaction partners and submit transaction plans to multiple charging stations. The mobility of EVs results in users randomly selecting rings multiple times, which may cause them to appear in different rings. Attackers can link multiple transaction plans and infer user privacy information. The leakage of transaction information may threaten the fairness of transactions. Aiming at the above situations, a privacy protection scheme to resist ring selection attack in Peer-to-Peer double auction V2V electricity transaction for charging stations is proposed. Firstly, the ring signcryption algorithm is improved to resist ring selection attack. Secondly, a real identity verification algorithm is designed to track malicious users. Theoretical analysis proves that the security of the proposed privacy protection scheme. The elliptic curve point multiplication is used in the scheme to improve computational efficiency. Experiments show that this scheme has low computational and communication costs. Verification cost increases slowly with the increase of the number of ring members.

Game theoretic operation optimization of photovoltaic storage charging station considering uncertainty and carbon trading

With the advancement of energy conservation and emission reduction efforts, the orderly charging of electric vehicles and the operation of photovoltaic-storage-charging stations associated with electric vehicles have become increasingly important topics. This study constructs an optimization model for the operation of stations under the synergy of electricity and carbon markets from a game theory perspective. Firstly, Latin hypercube sampling and Monte Carlo sampling are employed to handle the uncertainties in photovoltaic output and the stochastic nature of electric vehicles charging. Secondly, a ladder-type carbon trading mechanism is introduced, and a charging optimization model based on Stackelberg game theory is developed to describe the benefit interaction between charging stations and electric vehicles users. In this model, the upper level represents the charging station operator aiming to maximize joint electricity and carbon revenue while minimizing load fluctuations, whereas the lower level represents electric vehicles users aiming to maximize consumer surplus. Finally, a genetic algorithm nested with mixed-integer linear programming is used to solve the optimization model. The simulation results validate the model's effectiveness and superiority. The results indicate that, compared to centralized optimization methods, the Stackelberg game mechanism can increase consumer surplus by 119.40 %, reduce carbon emissions by 217.92 %, and achieve a win-win situation for both parties. Compared to a fixed carbon trading value, the ladder-type carbon trading mechanism can reduce carbon emissions by 23.84 % and smooth load fluctuations.

Location and Size Planning of Charging Parking Lots Based on EV Charging Demand Prediction and Fuzzy Bi-Objective Optimization

The market share of electric vehicles (EVs) is growing rapidly. However, given the huge demand for parking and charging of electric vehicles, supporting facilities generally have problems such as insufficient quantity, low utilization efficiency, and mismatch between supply and demand. In this study, based on the actual EV operation data, we propose a driver travel-charging demand prediction method and a fuzzy bi-objective optimization method for location and size planning of charging parking lots (CPLs) based on existing parking facilities, aiming to reduce the charging waiting time of EV users while ensuring the maximal profit of CPL operators. First, the Monte Carlo method is used to construct a driver travel-charging behavior chain and a user spatiotemporal activity transfer model. Then, a user charging decision-making method based on fuzzy logic inference is proposed, which uses the fuzzy membership degree of influencing factors to calculate the charging probability of users at each road node. The travel and charging behavior of large-scale users are then simulated to predict the spatiotemporal distribution of charging demand. Finally, taking the predicted charging demand distribution as an input and the number of CPLs and charging parking spaces as constraints, a bi-objective optimization model for simultaneous location and size planning of CPLs is constructed, and solved using the fuzzy genetic algorithm. The results from a case study indicate that the planning scheme generated from the proposed methods not only reduces the travelling and waiting time of EV users for charging in most of the time, but also controls the upper limit of the number of charging piles to save construction costs and increase the total profit. The research results can provide theoretical support and decision-making reference for the planning of electric vehicle charging facilities and the intelligent management of charging parking lots.

ADDRESSING INFRASTRUCTURE GAPS IN MUMBAI’S 2-WHEELER EV CHARGING NETWORK: A FOCUS ON ACCESSIBILITY, USABILITY, AND USER FEEDBACK

Electric vehicles (EVs) are transforming transportation in Mumbai, with 2-wheeler EVs gaining significant traction among commuters. However, the insufficient availability and accessibility of charging infrastructure remain critical challenges. This study investigates the experiences of 2- wheeler EV users in Mumbai, focusing on the barriers they encounter when charging their vehicles. Given Mumbai’s dense traffic and urban complexities, limited charging points, long waiting times, and infrastructural constraints can hinder the user experience and discourage further adoption of EVs. The findings provide key insights into optimal charging station locations based on a comprehensive analysis of population density, traffic flow, and urban planning frameworks. Additionally, the study addresses the need for standardized charging protocols, advanced technologies, and user-friendly interfaces to enhance the usability of charging stations. The study emphasizes that addressing these challenges is crucial not only for the user experience but also for policymakers, urban planners, and stakeholders aiming to expand Mumbai’s EV infrastructure. Moreover, the environmental benefits of 2-wheeler EV adoption are examined, including reductions in energy consumption, carbon emissions, and overall environmental impact. By analyzing these factors, the research highlights the positive environmental outcomes of investing in robust charging infrastructure. Key challenges, such as high costs, feasibility concerns, and policy limitations, are also explored, offering a holistic understanding of the practical barriers to improving the EV charging network. The study concludes with actionable recommendations aimed at overcoming these challenges, fostering sustainable growth, and ensuring the efficient deployment of 2-wheeler EV charging infrastructure across Mumbai.

Exploring the effect of government incentives on electric vehicle purchase intention in smart cities

The use of electric vehicles is gaining momentum throughout the world. Low-carbon mobility is a core area of focus for sustainable transportation in smart cities. Policy makers and governments in many countries are incentivizing the manufacture, sale, and purchase of low carbon-emitting vehicles such as electric vehicles. Not many studies have focused on the usage of electric vehicles in smart cities from the perspectives of customer behavior and government incentive. Therefore, the aim of this study is to understand how the moderator government incentives influence potential customers' intention to purchase electric vehicles for smart mobility in smart cities. With the help of the theory of planned behavior and various literature, a theoretical model has been developed which is later validated using CB-SEM technique considering responses from 415 potential customers of electric vehicles. This study has demonstrated that subjective norms and personal norms supported by users’ attitude and behavioral control to use EVs could impact on the purchase intention of electric vehicles with active support of the government incentives. This study has proposed a pragmatic framework helpful for the policymakers to motivate the potential purchasers of the smart cities to purchase EVs.

Blockchain-based privacy-preserving incentive scheme for internet of electric vehicle

The emerging proportion of renewable energy resources penetration and the rapid popularity of Electric Vehicles (EVs) have promoted the development of the Internet of Electric Vehicles (IoEV), which enables seamless EV’ information collection and energy delivery by leveraging wireless power transfer. However, vulnerabilities in internet infrastructure and the self-interested behavior of EVs pose significant security and privacy risks during energy delivery in IoEV. In addition, EVs often lack the incentive to cooperate for regional energy balance. To tackle these questions, this paper proposes a blockchain-based privacy-preserving incentive mechanism for energy delivery in IoEV. Based on cryptographic technology, this paper introduces a group signature scheme with self-controlled and sequential linkability, which safeguards the privacy of EV users and ensures transaction records maintain exact sequence during energy delivery. Furthermore, an incentive mechanism based on co-utile reputation management is presented to encourage EV users to participate honestly and cooperatively in energy delivery. Moreover, a comprehensive security analysis of the proposed group signature scheme and incentive mechanism is given. Finally, extensive experimental results demonstrate the feasibility and efficiency of the proposed approach compared to existing schemes.

Deployment of Public Charging Stations for BEVs Using an Agent-Based Modeling Approach

A low utilization rate of public chargers and unmatched deployment of public charging stations (CSs) are partly attributed to inappropriate modeling of charging behavior and biased charging demand estimation. This study proposes an optimization methodology for public CS deployment, considering real charging behavior and interactions between battery electric vehicle (BEV) users and CSs. Realistic charging choice behavior is modeled based on surveys, and a dynamic charging decision chain is simulated, allowing interactions between BEV users and CSs through an agent-based modeling (ABM) approach. The charging-related activities are triggered by state of charge (SOC) levels randomly generated from distributions derived from real BEV operating data, including the random SOC levels at the start of a trip, the SOC level that prompts the user to charge the BEV, and the SOC level at which the user stops charging the BEV. A bi-level programming model is proposed to optimize the deployment schemes for building new CSs considering the existing CSs, to determine the location and the capacity of new CSs. The objective is to minimize the total time cost per BEV user, including travel time, charging time and waiting time in the queue. An application is conducted, for the deployment of fast CSs in Washington State, USA. The results show that our method could provide effective guidance for allocating new CSs that are good supplements to the existing heavy-load CSs to share their charging load and relieve their serious queuing problems. The optimized deployment scheme can efficiently alleviate long waiting times at existing CSs and leads to a more balanced utilization among CSs. The proposed approach is expected to contribute to better planning and deployment of public CSs, satisfaction of the booming charging demand and increased utilization of public CSs.

Enhancing electric car lithium-ion batteries by using adaptive materials to improve heat transfer and reduce fatigue

The widespread adoption of electric vehicles (EVs) hinges on the efficiency and reliability of their battery systems. However, EV batteries still have many issues, mostly in terms of quantity, storage efficacy, charging speed, lifespan, and security, particularly, temperature variations, which can cause accidents that can lead to losses of products and persons. Hence, any advancement in the field of EV batteries would improve their performance and thus, boost daily usage of EVs that would reduce the pollution caused by traditional cars. Therefore, the main objective of this study focuses on improving the thermal and mechanical stability, energy storage efficiency, and safety of electric vehicle batteries by incorporating multifunctional materials, particularly phase-change materials (PCM) and shape memory alloys (SMA). By incorporating PCM, the thermal regulation of batteries is enhanced, resulting in better charge-discharge cycles, extended battery life, and reduced overheating risks, all of which contribute to increased safety. SMA integration, on the other hand, offers mechanical protection, flexibility in heat management, and resilience against thermomechanical fatigue, further improving battery longevity. Moreover, the incorporation of these adaptive materials not only boosts battery performance but also ensures that the materials can be seamlessly integrated without affecting the overall design or significantly increasing the weight of the battery. Thus, a systematic numerical study was conducted in order to adapt the multifunctional materials with each other and with EV battery systems. The study demonstrated a significant improvement in battery thermomechanical stability, leading to better storage performance, quality, and charging speed. Particularly, the findings showed a remarkable increase around 23: % in thermal stability duration, preventing excessive temperature variations, and an important reduction in mechanical vibrations around 79 %, which minimizes fatigue and enhances durability. Finally, the results revealed that the proposed adaptable materials are the most stable for car batteries even during fast charging while driving. These materials can also support alternative ways of charging, such as using solar sources.

Optimizing Sustainable Urban Mobility: Integration Of Electric Vehicle Charging Infrastructure Into Smart Buildings

The integration of electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure into smart buildings is a crucial step toward enhancing sustainable urban mobility. This paper explores the benefits, challenges, strategies, and best practices associated with this integration, with a focus on optimizing EV charging accessibility and promoting a cleaner transportation ecosystem. Traditional vehicles powered by fossil fuels contribute significantly to pollution and greenhouse gas emissions, highlighting the urgent need for sustainable alternatives. EVs offer reduced emissions, lower operating costs, and potential energy independence through renewable sources, making them a promising solution for urban mobility challenges. Despite these advantages, the widespread adoption of EVs faces hurdles, particularly regarding charging infrastructure availability and accessibility in urban areas. Range anxiety among EV users due to insufficient charging stations is a significant concern hindering the transition to electric transportation. The paper emphasizes strategic placement of charging stations, integration with renewable energy sources like solar panels, and utilization of smart grid technologies to optimize EV charging operations. Case studies such as Tesla Gigafactory Shanghai and Googleplex showcase successful implementations, demonstrating scalability, user-centric design, and seamless integration with building management systems. Key challenges such as funding constraints, technical interoperability, and grid integration are addressed, proposing solutions like innovative financing models, standardization efforts, and advanced grid management technologies. By addressing these challenges and implementing sustainable solutions, the integration of EV charging infrastructure into smart buildings can significantly contribute to reducing environmental impact, promoting cleaner transportation options, and fostering a more sustainable and resilient urban environment

Trustworthy V2G scheduling and energy trading: A blockchain-based framework

The rapid growth of electric vehicles (EVs) and the deployment of vehicle-to-grid (V2G) technology pose significant challenges for distributed power grids, particularly in fostering trust and ensuring effective coordination among stakeholders. Establishing a trustworthy V2G operation environment is crucial for enabling large-scale EV user participation and realizing V2G’s potential in real-world applications. In this paper, an integrated scheduling and trading framework is developed to conduct transparent and efficacious coordination in V2G operations. In blockchain implementation, a cyber-physical blockchain architecture is proposed to enhance transaction efficiency and scalability by leveraging smart charging points (SCPs) for rapid transaction validation through a fast-path practical byzantine fault tolerance (fast-path PBFT) consensus mechanism. From the energy dispatching perspective, a game-theoretical pricing strategy is employed and smart contracts are utilized for autonomous decision-making between EVs and operators, aiming to optimize the trading process and maximize economic benefits. Numerical evaluation of blockchain consensus shows the effect of the fast-path PBFT consensus in improving systems scalability with a balanced trade-off in robustness. A case study, utilizing real-world data from the Southern University of Science and Technology (SUSTech), demonstrates significant reductions in EV charging costs and the framework’s potential to support auxiliary grid services.

Self-reported public fast charging infrastructure demand: what do existing and potential electric vehicle adopters want and where?

Electric vehicles (EVs) promise emissions reduction, but adoption rates must increase to meet 2030 targets. Since public fast charging infrastructure (PFCI) is considered important to increase EV uptake, this research aims to assess its demand across existing and potential EV adopters in Ireland. Online mapping tools were used to capture 1635 self-reported locations where users prefer PFCI, along with other related preferences from 545 respondents. The results were analysed using a mixed-method approach including exploratory factor analysis (EFA), Geographic Information System (GIS), two-step cluster analysis, and qualitative analysis. The results indicate that expanding PFCI is critical for increasing EV uptake, with 81.4% of potential EV adopters showing a significant impact on uptake. Major deterrents identified include insufficient availability of public fast chargers followed by high charging costs. The qualitative analysis highlights existing EV users’ demand for improved end-user experiences, such as unified payment systems. Most preferred locations for PFCI installation include travel routes, followed by shopping centres/ supermarkets. Results also indicate that a reliable second-hand market would be key to increasing EV uptake. The findings from this study can serve policymakers in effectively rolling out PFCI, while the methodology employed can be replicated in other comparable study areas.

Mechanism design of EVs fast charging rights for enhanced vehicle-to-grid regulation

With the advancement of policy initiatives and technological developments, vehicle-to-grid (V2G) interactions have emerged as a critical focus within power system research. Despite numerous current studies on V2G, the exploration of incentive mechanisms to encourage user participation in these systems remains comparatively underdeveloped. This study proposes an innovative demand response (DR) incentive mechanism for electric vehicles (EVs) grounded in the regulation of fast charging powers via strategically assigning and allocating virtual points defined as fast charging right (FCR). The primary objective of this mechanism is to meet the power regulation requirements of DR while simultaneously balancing the grid’s response costs and accommodating the charging demands of EV users. Through simulation and comparative analysis with the existing pilot DR incentive mechanisms, the results demonstrate that the proposed mechanism outperforms the current model in three critical aspects: power regulation efficacy, cost-effectiveness, and user experience. In addition, this paper investigates the performance of the incentive mechanisms in both online and offline scheduling environments. The findings reveal that the FCR mechanism maintains robust power regulation performance even under online scheduling conditions.