DOI: https://doi.org/10.15368/theses.2011.199
Available at: https://digitalcommons.calpoly.edu/theses/642
Date of Award
11-2011
Degree Name
MS in Electrical Engineering
Department/Program
Electrical Engineering
Advisor
Ali Shaban
Abstract
Plug-in Electric Vehicles (PEVs) are projected to become a viable means of transportation due to advances in technology and advocates for green and eco-friendly energy solutions. These vehicles are powered partially, or in some cases, solely by the energy stored in their battery packs. The large sizes of these battery packs require large amount of energy to charge, and as the demand for PEV increases, the increase in energy demand needed to recharge these PEV batteries could pose problems to the present electric distribution system. This study examines the potential impacts of PEV on a residential electric distribution system at various penetration levels.
An existing residential distribution network is modeled up to each household service point and various sensitivity scenarios and stochastic patterns of PEV loads are simulated. Impact studies that include voltage drop, service transformers overload, energy loss, and transformer thermal loss-of-life expectancy are analyzed. Results from the study are reported and recommendations to mitigate the impacts are presented.