Assessing the impact of Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicles on distribution network operations using Time-Series Distribution Power Flow analysis

Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicles (PGEVs) are fast becoming an effective alternative to the fossil-fuel based vehicles and its penetration in the consumer market is poised to increase at a faster rate in the coming decades. However, the uncontrolled charging-discharging of PHEVs - given its increasing use - will pose a formidable challenge to the Distribution System Operators (DSOs). It can both be seen as an opportunity in terms of dispatchable energy storage as well as a threat in the form of uncontrolled factor raising the maximum real power demand. DSOs´ other concerns may include the impact of PHEVs on overall feeder voltage profile, energy losses, power factor-reactive power management and switching operations of Voltage Regulators (VRs), transformers with Line Tap Changers (LTCs) and Shunt Capacitors (SCs). In order to account for seasonal and diurnal variability and to undertake time-integral studies for losses and switching operations of controllable devices, Time-Series Distribution Power Flow (TS-DPF) analysis is used in this paper for IEEE37 node underground cable-fed network to assess the impact of PHEVs. The results show the realistic annualized effect of PHEVs on voltage profile, energy losses, peak demand at source node and tap changing operations of VRs in a low voltage distribution network.