EV Battery Charging Scheduling for Grid Load Management
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Solution Overview
Problem
The demand for peak power from utility grids to support plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) leads to inefficiencies and increased costs due to the need for fast-response power plants, while off-peak hours see underutilization of more efficient, slower-response plants, resulting in higher energy costs for users and utilities.
Innovation Solution
A system and method that determines the optimal time to recharge electric vehicle batteries from the utility grid during periods of lower demand, communicating with the utility to synchronize charging with off-peak hours and complete recharging by the desired time, thereby optimizing grid usage and reducing energy costs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If charging is performed during peak hours to ensure battery is ready when needed, then battery availability is improved, but grid load and energy cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary charging during off-peak hours before the battery is needed, rather than charging during peak hours. The controller determines the time required to recharge and schedules charging to complete by a desired time, utilizing lower-cost off-peak power to reduce energy costs while ensuring battery availability when needed.
2Reliability
If fast-response power plants are used to meet peak demand, then grid reliability is improved, but operational efficiency deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The charging system schedules battery charging during off-peak hours when slow-response, high-efficiency power plants are operating. This preliminary charging action reduces the need for fast-response power plants during peak hours, allowing them to be idled or operated at lower capacity, thereby improving their operational efficiency while maintaining grid reliability.
3Loss of energy
If charging is delayed to off-peak hours to reduce energy cost, then energy cost is reduced, but battery readiness time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts charging parameters based on real-time conditions. The controller monitors the time required to recharge the battery and the current grid conditions, then schedules charging to complete by a desired time. This dynamic scheduling allows the system to utilize off-peak hours for charging while ensuring the battery is ready when needed, balancing cost reduction with time constraints.
Data Source
AI summary
A method for recharging an electric storage battery in the charging system of an electric vehicle from an electric utility power grid includes determining the length of time required to recharge the battery, determining the desired time when the recharge is to be completed, transmitting to the electric power utility the length of time required to recharge the battery and the desired time, and recharging the battery from the utility grid during a period when projected load demand is lower than peak demand and ending no later than the desired time.