Extreme weather events have recently highlighted the vulnerabilities of electric vehicle (EV) charger infrastructure, leaving many EV owners stranded without access to charging facilities. In the wake of increasingly frequent and severe extreme weather events, electric vehicle (EV) owners are facing unprecedented challenges as their reliance on EV chargers comes under scrutiny.
The impact of extreme weather on EV chargers has exposed several vulnerabilities:
- Power Grid Strain: During heatwaves, the demand for electricity surges as both EV owners and regular consumers rely heavily on air conditioning and cooling systems. The added strain on the power grid can lead to power outages or reduced charging capacity, affecting EV charging stations that depend on the grid supply.
- Charging Station Damage: Severe storms and flooding can cause physical damage to charging stations and the surrounding infrastructure, rendering them inoperative until repairs are completed. In some cases, extensive damage may lead to longer periods of downtime and reduced accessibility for EV users.
- Infrastructure Overload: In regions where EV adoption is high, charging stations might experience overcrowding during extreme weather events. When a large number of EV owners converge on limited charging points, long waiting times and congested charging stations become inevitable.
- Battery Performance Reduction: Prolonged exposure to extreme temperatures, whether freezing cold or scorching heat, can negatively impact the performance and efficiency of EV batteries. This, in turn, affects the overall charging process and driving range.
Based on the seriousness of the extreme weather problem year by year, more and more people have begun to think about how to protect the environment, reduce emissions, and slow down the development process of extreme weather, on the premise of being able to accelerate the development process of electric vehicles and their charging equipment, to solve the current drawbacks of charging electric vehicles in extreme weather.
Distributed Energy Resources: Distributed Energy Resources (DERs) refer to a decentralized and diverse set of energy technologies and systems that generate, store, and manage energy closer to the point of consumption. These resources are often located within or near the premises of end-users, including residential, commercial, and industrial properties. By incorporating DERs into the electricity grid, the traditional centralized power generation model is complemented and enhanced, offering numerous benefits for both energy consumers and the grid itself. Distributed energy resources, particularly solar panels, are typically based on renewable energy sources like sunlight. By encouraging their adoption, the share of clean and sustainable energy in the overall energy mix increases. This aligns with global efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and combat climate change. Implementing distributed energy resources, such as solar panels and energy storage systems, can help alleviate stress on the grid during peak demand periods and maintain charging services during power outages. Charging stations shaded with solar photovoltaic panels.
Built directly over EV spaces, solar photovoltaic panels can both generate electricity for vehicle charging as well as provide shade and cooling for parked vehicles. In addition, solar panels can also be expanded to cover additional conventional parking spaces.
Benefits include reduced greenhouse gas emissions, lower operating costs for station owners, and reduced strain on the electrical grid, especially if combined with battery storage. Playing further on the tree and forest analogy, designer Neville Mars deviates from typical charging station design with his set of PV leaves that branch out from a central trunk.29 The base of each trunk hosts a power outlet. An example of biomimicry, the leaf-shaped solar panels follow the path of the sun and provides shading to parked cars, both EV and conventional. Though a model was presented in 2009, a full-scale version has yet to be built.
Smart Charging and Load Management: Smart Charging and Load Management is an advanced approach to managing the charging of electric vehicles (EVs) that leverages technology, data, and communication systems to optimize and balance electricity demand on the grid. This method aims to efficiently distribute the charging load, avoid grid overloads during peak periods, and reduce overall energy consumption, contributing to a more stable and sustainable electrical grid. Utilizing smart charging technologies and load management systems can optimize charging patterns and distribute charging loads more efficiently, preventing overloads during peak times. Dynamic Load Balancing is a feature that monitors changes in power usage in a circuit and automatically allocates available capacity between Home Loads or EVs. It adjusts the charging output of electric vehicles according to the change of electric load. Multiple cars charging at one location at the same time can create costly electrical load spikes. Power sharing solves the problem of simultaneous charging of multiple electric vehicles at one location. Therefore, as a first step, you group these charging points in a so-called DLM circuit. To protect the grid, you can set a power limit for it.
As the world continues to grapple with the consequences of climate change, fortifying AC EV charger infrastructure against extreme weather events becomes an imperative task. Governments, utility companies, and private entities must collaborate to invest in resilient charging networks and support the transition to a greener, more sustainable transportation future.