Comparing the Impact of Electric Vehicles on Urban and Insular Networks

Abstract

Transport sector is moving towards clean and green transportation with the growing market of electric vehicles globally. Electric vehicles are independent fossil fuels consumption, but the massive adoption of electric vehicles soon can lead to a significant burden on the power distribution networks. In this paper, a study on the potential impact of electric vehicles on the power distribution networks of two different regions with totally different realities of population density, an average number of cars per inhabitant, and travel habits has been carried out. The first region is the island of Favignana having an insular power distribution network, while the other region, the city of Palermo has a grid-connected power distribution network with eight substations. The load profiles of these two regions have been analyzed in detail with future scenarios of 10, 20, and 50 % penetration levels of electric vehicles. The Monte Carlo method having the capability of generating data on the behavior of car owners with consideration of different scenarios has been used, utilizing MATLAB software. The simulation results indicate that the high penetration levels of electric vehicles in the future will lead to high peak load demands and these results will be more severe for the regions having high population densities, a high average of cars per inhabitant, and long driving distances.