Optimal Planning Strategy for Reconfigurable Electric Vehicle Chargers in Car Parks
A conventional electric vehicle charger (EVC) charges only one EV concurrently. This leads to underutilization whenever the charging power is less than the EVC-rated capacity. Consequently, the cost-effectiveness of conventional EVCs is limited. Reconfigurable EVCs (REVCs) are a new technology that...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2023-10-01
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| Series: | Energies |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/16/20/7204 |
| _version_ | 1797574001117102080 |
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| author | Bingkun Song Udaya K. Madawala Craig A. Baguley |
| author_facet | Bingkun Song Udaya K. Madawala Craig A. Baguley |
| author_sort | Bingkun Song |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | A conventional electric vehicle charger (EVC) charges only one EV concurrently. This leads to underutilization whenever the charging power is less than the EVC-rated capacity. Consequently, the cost-effectiveness of conventional EVCs is limited. Reconfigurable EVCs (REVCs) are a new technology that overcomes underutilization by allowing multiple EVs to be charged concurrently. This brings a cost-effective charging solution, especially in large car parks requiring numerous chargers. Therefore, this paper proposes an optimal planning strategy for car parks deploying REVCs. The proposed planning strategy involves three stages. An optimization model is developed for each stage of the proposed planning strategy. The first stage determines the optimal power rating of power modules inside each REVC, and the second stage determines the optimal number and configuration of REVCs, followed by determining the optimal operation plan for EV car parks in the third stage. To demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed optimal planning strategy, a comprehensive case study is undertaken using realistic car parking scenarios with 400 parking spaces, electricity tariffs, and grid infrastructure costs. Compared to deploying other conventional EVCs, the results convincingly indicate that the proposed optimal planning strategy significantly reduces the total cost of investment and operation while satisfying charging demands. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T21:17:03Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-dce6e53473c545738ab195683192b4f6 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1996-1073 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T21:17:03Z |
| publishDate | 2023-10-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Energies |
| spelling | doaj.art-dce6e53473c545738ab195683192b4f62023-11-19T16:23:39ZengMDPI AGEnergies1996-10732023-10-011620720410.3390/en16207204Optimal Planning Strategy for Reconfigurable Electric Vehicle Chargers in Car ParksBingkun Song0Udaya K. Madawala1Craig A. Baguley2Department of Electrical, Computer and Software Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, The University of Auckland, Auckland 1023, New ZealandDepartment of Electrical, Computer and Software Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, The University of Auckland, Auckland 1023, New ZealandDepartment of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, School of Engineering, Computer and Mathematical Sciences, Faculty of Design and Creative Technologies, Auckland University of Technology, Auckland 1142, New ZealandA conventional electric vehicle charger (EVC) charges only one EV concurrently. This leads to underutilization whenever the charging power is less than the EVC-rated capacity. Consequently, the cost-effectiveness of conventional EVCs is limited. Reconfigurable EVCs (REVCs) are a new technology that overcomes underutilization by allowing multiple EVs to be charged concurrently. This brings a cost-effective charging solution, especially in large car parks requiring numerous chargers. Therefore, this paper proposes an optimal planning strategy for car parks deploying REVCs. The proposed planning strategy involves three stages. An optimization model is developed for each stage of the proposed planning strategy. The first stage determines the optimal power rating of power modules inside each REVC, and the second stage determines the optimal number and configuration of REVCs, followed by determining the optimal operation plan for EV car parks in the third stage. To demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed optimal planning strategy, a comprehensive case study is undertaken using realistic car parking scenarios with 400 parking spaces, electricity tariffs, and grid infrastructure costs. Compared to deploying other conventional EVCs, the results convincingly indicate that the proposed optimal planning strategy significantly reduces the total cost of investment and operation while satisfying charging demands.https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/16/20/7204electric vehicle (EV)reconfigurable electric vehicle chargers (REVCs)planningEV car parkoperation |
| spellingShingle | Bingkun Song Udaya K. Madawala Craig A. Baguley Optimal Planning Strategy for Reconfigurable Electric Vehicle Chargers in Car Parks Energies electric vehicle (EV) reconfigurable electric vehicle chargers (REVCs) planning EV car park operation |
| title | Optimal Planning Strategy for Reconfigurable Electric Vehicle Chargers in Car Parks |
| title_full | Optimal Planning Strategy for Reconfigurable Electric Vehicle Chargers in Car Parks |
| title_fullStr | Optimal Planning Strategy for Reconfigurable Electric Vehicle Chargers in Car Parks |
| title_full_unstemmed | Optimal Planning Strategy for Reconfigurable Electric Vehicle Chargers in Car Parks |
| title_short | Optimal Planning Strategy for Reconfigurable Electric Vehicle Chargers in Car Parks |
| title_sort | optimal planning strategy for reconfigurable electric vehicle chargers in car parks |
| topic | electric vehicle (EV) reconfigurable electric vehicle chargers (REVCs) planning EV car park operation |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/16/20/7204 |
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