Renewable energy EV charging station

Due to the increased interest in electric vehicle (EV) technologies and the cost reduction of photovoltaic systems, industrial development of battery charging stations for electric vehicles based on solar energy has started. Although it is convenient to charge EVs at night, when there is less electricity consumption, there will always be consumers who prefer or need to charge their EV during daytime and even during peak hours. In this paper, an EV charging station integrating renewable energy in the form of solar energy is proposed and analyzed. Using a local battery pack, the charging station allows semi-fast and fast charging and can be installed in individual homes and apartment buildings, where the maximum power delivered by the grid is limited to 3.6kW. The charging station uses converters widely available on the market. A simulation model for this charging station is developed and various distinct operation modes are presented, validating the correct operation of the entire system.

I. Introduction

The modern Electric Vehicle (EV) technologies are relatively new and EVs are starting to gain popularity due to their numerous advantages: zero emissions, reduced fossil fuels use, efficiency, low noise, and so on. Environmental pollution, depletion of fossil fuels, growing consumer expectations and increased fuel costs lead manufacturers (ABB, SMA, Siemens and others) to start focusing on EV, battery chargers and charging stations. Nowadays, research on electric vehicles is focusing on increasing the autonomy and efficiency of vehicles, reducing prices, and developing methods for an efficient charging system [1]–[6].