PV-Powered Electric Vehicle Charging Stations: Preliminary Requirements and Feasibility Conditions

Featured Application This article presents the preliminary requirements and feasibility conditions for a photovoltaic (PV)-powered electric vehicle (EV) aiming at increasing PV benefits. Based on a DC microgrid, the charging station integrates PV sources, stationary storage, and public grid connection. Following the description and simulation validation, PV benefits increase for EVs charging when the park time for EVs is long, the charging mode is slow, and the charging power is variable. Environmental benefits lie in halting direct air pollution and reducing greenhouse gas emissions. In contrast to thermal vehicles, electric vehicles (EV) have zero tailpipe emissions, but their contribution in reducing global air pollution is highly dependent on the energy source they have been charged with. Thus, the energy system depicted in this paper is a photovoltaic (PV)-powered EV charging station based on a DC microgrid and includes stationary storage and public grid connection as power source backups. The goal is to identify the preliminary requirements and feasibility conditions for PV-powered EV charging stations leading to PV benefits growth. Simulation results of different scenarios prove that slow charging with long park time could increase PV benefits for EVs and may reduce the charging price, therefore, EV users should be more willing to stay at charging stations. Whereas, for fast charging, EV users should accept the high charging price since it depends on the public energy grid. Energy system distribution and EV's energy distribution are well presented.

Automated summary

This article presents the preliminary requirements and feasibility conditions for a photovoltaic (PV)-powered electric vehicle (EV) charging station. It emphasizes the increase in PV benefits when EV park time is long, charging mode is slow, and charging power is variable, as well as the environmental benefits. The research findings show that slow charging can increase PV benefits, reduce charging prices, and make EV users more willing to stay at charging stations.