AC Recharging Infrastructure for EVs and future smart grids — A review

AC Recharging Infrastructures for EVs will be a crucial feature in many smart grid scenarios. EV charging will need to be dynamic and correlated to renewable generation with the effect of reducing the overall net demand variability in order to allow for mass roll-out of EVs. This paper highlights how the functionalities of AC recharging systems may need to evolve to ensure that the optimal operation of the power system is achieved. In the light of future smart grid evolution scenarios, critical parameters of AC infrastructures and their possible evolution are discussed while other potentially useful functions are also put forward. It was found through the analysis of existing infrastructures and connection standards that there are some inherent capabilities that can be readily implemented and may enhance the performance of the AC grids and increase their EVs hosting capacities. Additionally, other capabilities will evolve in the near future serving for better integration of EVs along with renewables.