Enhancing Electric Vehicle Charging Infrastructure: A Techno-Economic Analysis of Distributed Energy Resources and Local Grid Integration

Abstract

The electric vehicle (EV) industry has emerged in response to the necessity of reducing greenhouse gas emissions and combating climate change. However, as the number of EVs increases, EV charging networks are confronted with considerable obstacles pertaining to accessibility, charging time, and the equilibrium between electricity demand and supply. In this paper, we present a techno-economic analysis of EV charging stations (EVCSs) by building type. This analysis is based on public EVCS data and considers both standalone local grid operation and integrated operation of distributed energy resources (DERs) and the local grid. The analysis has significant implications for the management of the electricity grid and the utilization of sustainable energy, and can result in economic benefits for both residential, commercial, and public buildings. The analysis indicates that integrating DERs with the local grid at EV charging stations can reduce local grid usage relative to EV demand. Nevertheless, there are also complexities, such as initial investment and maintenance costs, especially the weather-dependent performance variability of solar, which require financial support mechanisms, such as subsidies or tax incentives. Future research should focus on different DER integrations, regional and seasonal variability, user behavior, installation location, policy and regulatory impacts, and detailed capital expenditure analysis. Such research will advance DER and EVCS integration and contribute to increasing the efficiency and sustainability of urban energy systems.