Impact of EV Charging Stations Integration on Power System Performance

Electric vehicles partner with clean energy to prevent carbon emissions attributed to internal combustion engine-powered traditional vehicles, gas-based power plants, and other environmental pollution sources. At the same time, using electric vehicles adversely affects power infrastructure; hence, analytical research is crucial to assess such effects. This paper is based on several scenarios comprising a rising number of vehicles connected to the electrical system. The adverse effects of electric vehicle charging stations connected to the electrical infrastructure were diagnosed. MATLAB/Simulink was used for simulation and modelling to highlight any effects. Vehicle charging points and their impact on the electrical system's total harmonic distortion were studied; a single-vehicle connected to the system added 2.44% to the THD, which increased to 12.69% when twelve vehicles were connected simultaneously. Moreover, charging operations breached the recommended voltage standards; a 0.95 P.U. voltage was recorded. Additionally, charging station integration reduced the power factor of the electrical system; this phenomenon was assessed.