Characterising the flexibility of electric vehicle charging strategies: a systematic review and assessment

Abstract

The increasing uptake of electric vehicles (EVs) has raised concerns about the impact a large fleet could have on electricity markets and distribution grids alike. Charging strategies have emerged as a means to provide flexibility, especially to electricity distribution grids, by controlling the EV charging process. This paper presents a typification of charging strategies and introduces a conceptual framework for appraising their flexibility in distribution grids. This is underpinned by data collected through an aggregative systematic literature review. The framework is derived from an exploratory qualitative content analysis of the sampled data and encompasses four flexibility dimensions: time, duration, quantity, and location of charging. Structural elements of a charging strategy are also explored, complementing the framework. Finally, the paper also presents a quantitative data analysis assessing the level of flexibility provided by each charging strategy. Results show that flexibility dimensions are not equally exploited, direct control strategies do not strictly outperform other control alternatives and innovative charging structures are yet to thrive for flexibility supply to increase. These findings contribute to better-informed, evidence-based policy interventions.