Assessment of distribution system margins to accommodate the penetration of plug-in electric vehicles

Environmental concerns and depletion of fossil fuel resources have led to increased penetration of plug-in electric vehicles (PEVs) in recent times. However, such electrification of the transportation sector is expected to impact the distribution grid adversely. These effects will require local distribution companies (LDCs) to accurately assess the impact of PEV penetration and develop plans, policies and solutions for alleviating the consequent network constraints. This paper presents a novel framework to assess the appropriate level of PEV penetration that distribution systems can accommodate under normal and contingency conditions of operation. The model incorporates the impact of different factors such as charging level, vehicle types, vehicle users habits, feeder thermal limits, and bus voltage limits. The distribution system margins from PEV penetration are examined and compared across a wide range of scenarios.