E-mobility is important for the green transformation globally. CEE's research in e-mobility supports the Danish Government's strategy of electrifying transport and mobility as means to reaching a 70% reduction in greenhouse gases by 2030. The research area includes all types of ground-based transport ranging from heavy to light and from industry to personal transportation. Instrumental to this goal is providing prosumers with efficient, secure and integrated approaches of utilizing charging flexibility.
From the power system point of view, electrification of transport will introduce an additional demand in power and energy. Our research explores the grid impact of charging demand on a local and regional level. Based on the coincidence factor of charging, impact in terms of equipment loading, voltages and system stability are assessed.
Conversely, potential benefits for the power system are also investigated. Electric vehicles may deliver power and energy services by leveraging charging flexibility, or by using the vehicle batteries as energy storage. The latter option, referred to as Vehicle-To-Grid, may strengthen the role of electric vehicles in the power system. We are researching both the potential benefits of V2G while also studying adverse effect in terms of battery degradation.
Central to understanding both the impacts and potential of transportation electrification is the charging equipment that acts as interface between electro-mobility and the power system. It is crucial that the national charging equipment is strategically planned and dimensioned to meet the present and future charging demand. Concurrently the equipment must be prepared, in terms of connectivity, cybersecurity, controllability and data accessibility, to support grid integration through centralized or autonomous control.
We leverage our extensive experience on experimental validation, using the lab facilities of PowerLabDK to test and validate vehicles and chargers. Also, we benefit from a close collaboration with industrial and commercial partners.
As electric vehicle charging may represent one of the largest and most flexible demands in a contemporary household – e-Mobility may significantly advance the prosumer approach – this ties to CEEs focus area of Consumers, services and business models.
Selected examples: