**Title: Coordinated Charging for Electric Vehicles Could Optimize Energy Use and Reduce Costs**
Researchers from the University of Texas at Austin have developed a new framework to optimize the charging and discharging of battery electric vehicles (BEVs) across multiple charging stations. Their work, published in the journal *IEEE Transactions on Sustainable Energy*, aims to address the challenges posed by the rapid adoption of BEVs and the need for a more coordinated charging infrastructure.
As more people switch to electric vehicles to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, the power grid faces new challenges. Uncontrolled charging can lead to increased power losses and voltage fluctuations. To mitigate these issues, the researchers developed a multi-objective optimization framework that balances the needs of the grid, charging station operators, and BEV owners.
The framework incorporates a carbon emission program and a dynamic economic dispatch problem. This allows BEV users to charge and discharge their vehicles based on optimal electricity prices and compensation. By integrating dynamic economic dispatch with time-of-use tariffs, the system can obtain optimal market electricity prices and reduce total costs over a 24-hour period.
The researchers found that their proposed scheduling increased participation in vehicle-to-grid (V2G) services by over 10% and increased benefits for electric vehicle charging station (EVCS) operators by over 20%. Additionally, the system reduced network losses and contributed to better offsetting battery degradation costs.
For the energy sector, this research highlights the potential benefits of coordinated charging and discharging of electric vehicles. By optimizing the use of BEVs, the grid can operate more efficiently, reducing costs and environmental impact. EVCS operators can also benefit from increased revenue, while BEV owners can take advantage of lower electricity costs and compensation for participating in V2G services.
In practical terms, this research could lead to the development of smart charging stations that communicate with each other and with the grid to optimize charging and discharging patterns. This could be particularly useful in urban areas with high concentrations of electric vehicles, where the strain on the grid is most acute.
Overall, the study demonstrates the potential for coordinated charging and discharging to play a crucial role in the transition to a more sustainable and efficient energy system. As the number of electric vehicles on the road continues to grow, such innovations will be essential to ensuring the reliability and resilience of the power grid.
Source: IEEE Transactions on Sustainable Energy
This article is based on research available at arXiv.