Electricity distribution system planning for an increasing penetration of plug-in electric vehicles in New South Wales

The deployment of electric vehicle technology has the potential to produce widespread social and economic benefits in Australia. The penetration of plug-in electric vehicles in the motor vehicle market of New South Wales is expected to increase in the short-term future. The charging of these vehicles will undoubtedly have some effect on the local electrical distribution network. This study examines how electricity Distribution Network Service Providers can anticipate and manage the potential impacts of increasing plug-in electric vehicle penetration on electrical distribution networks in the New South Wales Metropolitan Region. This paper outlines the development of a process for assessing the impact of both managed and unmanaged electric vehicle charging on the load profiles of distribution assets. This study outlines the development of a novel method of utilising regional travel data to estimate the effect of unmanaged electric vehicle charging on the load profiles of distribution assets. The effectiveness of implementing time of use pricing and smart load control strategies for the management of electric vehicle charging load is assessed. The analysis undertaken in this study reveals that relatively small penetrations of electric vehicles can cause the ratings of distribution assets to be exceeded. The introduction of a smart load control scheme for electric vehicle loads is the most cost effective strategy currently available to service providers to defer or eliminate the requirement of network expenditure brought about by an increase in the penetration of plug-in electric vehicles.