Voltage profile and THD distortion of residential network with high penetration of Plug-in Electrical Vehicles

This paper analyzes the potential impacts of Plug-in Electric Vehicles (PEVs) on the voltage profile, losses, power quality and daily load curve of low voltage residential network. PEVs are soon expected to grow in popularity as a low emission mode of transport compared to conventional petroleum based vehicles. Utilities are concerned about the potential detrimental impacts that multiple domestic PEV charging may have on network equipment (e.g., transformer and cable stresses). To address these issues, two charging regimes including uncoordinated (random) and coordinated (uniformly distribution) are considered. Based on harmonic analysis of a typical 19 bus low voltage (415V) residential network, different charging scenarios over a 24 hour period are compared considering voltage deviations, system losses, transformer overloading and harmonic distortions. Simulation results are used to highlight the advantages of the coordinated uniformly distributed charging of PEV in residential systems.