Impact of Electric Vehicle Charging on the Performance of Distribution Grid

Electric vehicles (EVs) have rapidly transformed the automotive industry in recent times. Because of better performance and zero-carbon emissions, EVs are slowly gaining market share with respect to traditional combustion engine vehicles. The utility of EVs is not limited only to the transportation sector, but it also shows the prospect of serving as an independent distributed energy source. However, the integration of EVs has considerable impact on the electric power distribution system to which they are connected. This study has assessed the impacts of Level 1 (L1), Level 2 (L2), and DC fast charging of EVs on distribution feeder by varying the EV penetration level. Both graphical and real-time simulations have been conducted to evaluate the vehicle-charging effect on the distribution system. The outcome of the study demonstrates voltage deviation and distortion on the distribution grid.