Impact of Electric Vehicles on Power Systems and Society

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Department of Electrical Engineering and Information Technology, Faculty of Engineering and Information Technology, George Emil Palade University of Medicine, Pharmacy, Science, and Technology of Targu Mures, Gheorghe Marinescu 38, 540142 Târgu Mureș, Romania
Interests: electric vehicles; power systems; distributed generation; control systems
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Guest Editor
Department of Management Sciences, Waterloo Institute for Sustainable Energy (WISE), University of Waterloo, Waterloo, ON N2L 3G1, Canada
Interests: renewable and sustainable energy; energy sources; energy storage; energy conversion and management; geothermal energy; energy and environment; sustainable development

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The use of electric vehicles (EVs) in daily life is growing as the sales of this type of vehicle increase. These sales are affected by several factors, such as high purchase costs and a lack of charging stations. Governments can help increase the large-scale adoption of EVs by offering tax discounts and stimulating the installation of charging stations.

The growing number of electric vehicles (EVs) has a variety of effects on the power system, including increased power demand, an increase in short-circuit currents, possible voltage level regulation limit breaches, and a reduction in the lifespan of power equipment. Also, the use of EVs can help reduce CO2 emissions if a high share of the power mix comes from renewable energy sources.

The scope of this Special Issue includes, but is not limited to, the following topics:

  • Impact of EVs on power networks;
  • Vehicle-to-Grid (V2G) and Grid-to-Vehicle (G2V);
  • EV adoption, considering economic and energy barriers;
  • Impact of EVs on the environment;
  • Adoption of EVs by our society;
  • Policies and standards for EVs.

Dr. Lucian Dulău
Prof. Dr. Jatin S. Nathwani
Guest Editors

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Keywords

  • voltage level
  • short-circuit currents
  • power losses
  • CO2 emissions
  • smart grids
  • EV charging
  • economic analysis

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Published Papers (5 papers)

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Research

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24 pages, 8890 KiB  
Article
From Map to Policy: Road Transportation Emission Mapping and Optimizing BEV Incentives for True Emission Reductions
by Moritz Seidenfus, Jakob Schneider and Markus Lienkamp
World Electr. Veh. J. 2025, 16(4), 205; https://doi.org/10.3390/wevj16040205 - 1 Apr 2025
Viewed by 251
Abstract
This study explores the importance of considering regional aspects and different calculation approaches when assessing the environmental impact of passenger cars in Germany. The transportation sector, in general, needs to improve its transition to comply with national and international goals, and more efficient [...] Read more.
This study explores the importance of considering regional aspects and different calculation approaches when assessing the environmental impact of passenger cars in Germany. The transportation sector, in general, needs to improve its transition to comply with national and international goals, and more efficient measures are necessary. To achieve this, the spatial heterogeneity of underlying data, such as vehicle stocks, cubic capacity classes as a proxy for consumption values, and annual mileage, is investigated with respect to regional differences. Using data samples for the year 2017, the average emission values per car and year are calculated as well as Germany’s total emission values from the utilization of passenger cars. Conducting a spatially informed allocation algorithm, battery electric vehicles (BEVs) are added to certain regional fleets, replacing cars with internal combustion engines (ICEs). The results show significant regional differences in the underlying data, with a divergence between rural and urban areas as well as northern and southern regions, while the spread in mileage values is higher than that in consumption values. Comparing the tank-to-wheel (TtW) and well-to-wheel (WtW) approaches reveals different values with an increased spread as more BEVs are introduced to the fleet. Using the presented concept to allocate BEVs, emissions can be reduced by 1.66% to 1.35%, depending on the calculation perspective, compared to the extrapolation of historical values. Furthermore, rural areas benefit more from optimized allocation compared to urban ones. The findings suggest that regional distribution strategies could lead to more efficient reductions in GHG emissions within the transportation sector while incorporating both TtW and WtW approaches, leading to more comparable and precise analyses. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Impact of Electric Vehicles on Power Systems and Society)
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24 pages, 1898 KiB  
Article
Are Electric Vehicles a Solution for Arctic Isolated Microgrid Communities?
by Michelle Wilber, Jennifer I. Schmidt, Tobias Schwoerer, Tim Bodony, Matt Bergan, Joseph Groves, Tom Atkinson and Leif Albertson
World Electr. Veh. J. 2025, 16(3), 128; https://doi.org/10.3390/wevj16030128 - 25 Feb 2025
Viewed by 491
Abstract
The Arctic presents various challenges for a transition to electric vehicles compared to other regions of the world, including environmental conditions such as colder temperatures, differences in infrastructure, and cultural and economic factors. For this study, academic researchers partnered with three rural communities: [...] Read more.
The Arctic presents various challenges for a transition to electric vehicles compared to other regions of the world, including environmental conditions such as colder temperatures, differences in infrastructure, and cultural and economic factors. For this study, academic researchers partnered with three rural communities: Kotzebue, Galena, and Bethel, Alaska, USA. The study followed a co-production process that actively involved community partners to identify 21 typical vehicle use cases that were then empirically modeled to determine changes in fueling costs and greenhouse gas emissions related to a switch from an internal combustion engine to an electric vehicle. While most use cases showed decreases in fueling costs and climate emissions from a transition to electric versions of the vehicles, some common use profiles did not. Specifically, the short distances of typical commutes, when combined with low idling and engine block heater use, led to an increase in both fueling costs and emissions. Arctic communities likely need public investment and additional innovation in incentives, vehicle types, and power systems to fully and equitably participate in the transition to electrified transportation. More research on electric vehicle integration, user behavior, and energy demand at the community level is needed. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Impact of Electric Vehicles on Power Systems and Society)
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18 pages, 1910 KiB  
Article
Multi Objective Optimization of Electric Vehicle Charging Strategy Considering User Selectivity
by Sheng Li, Xiangyu Yan and Guanhua Wang
World Electr. Veh. J. 2025, 16(2), 95; https://doi.org/10.3390/wevj16020095 - 11 Feb 2025
Viewed by 720
Abstract
Electric vehicles (EVs) are increasing in number every year, and large-scale uncontrolled EV charging can impose significant load pressure on the power grid (PG), affecting its stability and economy. This paper proposes an EV charging strategy that considers user selectivity. The user’s selection [...] Read more.
Electric vehicles (EVs) are increasing in number every year, and large-scale uncontrolled EV charging can impose significant load pressure on the power grid (PG), affecting its stability and economy. This paper proposes an EV charging strategy that considers user selectivity. The user’s selection strategy includes options for fast and slow charging types, as well as the choice of whether to comply with grid-controlled charging. Charging types are selected based on the ability to reach the desired state of charge (SOC), while compliance with grid-controlled charging is determined by comparing the unit charging cost (CC). An objective function is established to minimize the peak valley load difference (PVLD) rate of PGs and users’ CC. To achieve this, an improved non-dominated sorting whale optimization algorithm (INSWOA) is proposed which initializes the population through logistic mapping, introduces nonlinear convergence factors for position updates, and uses adaptive inertia weights to improve population diversity, enhance global optimization ability, reduce premature convergence, and improve solution accuracy. Finally, simulating distribution networks in a certain region, the results obtained from the INSWOA were compared with those from the non-dominated sorting whale optimization algorithm (NSWOA) and other algorithms. The comparisons demonstrated that the INSWOA significantly reduced the PVLD rate of the PG load and users’ CCs, highlighting its high practical value. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Impact of Electric Vehicles on Power Systems and Society)
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13 pages, 1499 KiB  
Article
Study of the Total Ownership Cost of Electric Vehicles in Romania
by Lucian-Ioan Dulău
World Electr. Veh. J. 2024, 15(12), 569; https://doi.org/10.3390/wevj15120569 - 11 Dec 2024
Viewed by 1338
Abstract
Due to the significant increase in the number of EVs, this manuscript presents a study of the total ownership cost of electric vehicles in Romania. The total cost of ownership (TCO) includes the initial purchase price, maintenance costs, power prices, and government incentives [...] Read more.
Due to the significant increase in the number of EVs, this manuscript presents a study of the total ownership cost of electric vehicles in Romania. The total cost of ownership (TCO) includes the initial purchase price, maintenance costs, power prices, and government incentives or subsidies unique to the market in Romania. The TCO was calculated for battery electric vehicles (BEVs) and internal combustion vehicles (ICEs). Several vehicles were selected for the study, representing the models with the highest sales in Romania and a similar price range. The results show that EVs have a lower TCO compared with internal combustion vehicles if the battery replacement cost for EVs is not considered in the analysis. If this cost is considered, the TCO for the BEVs has a significant increase due to the high cost of the battery. Another analysis performed regards the CO2 emissions. These are higher for ICEs compared to BEVs, so the BEVs help reduce emissions. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Impact of Electric Vehicles on Power Systems and Society)
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Review

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31 pages, 8710 KiB  
Review
A Comprehensive Overview of the Development and Research of Energy Savings of Electric Wheel Loader
by Xiaotao Fei, Zuo Cheng, Shaw Voon Wong, Muhammad Amin Azman, Dawei Wang, Xiuxian Zhang, Qiuchen Shao and Qingqiu Lin
World Electr. Veh. J. 2025, 16(3), 164; https://doi.org/10.3390/wevj16030164 - 12 Mar 2025
Viewed by 749
Abstract
Electric wheel loaders (EWLs) have emerged as a pivotal innovation in the 2020s, representing a transformative shift toward high-efficiency, low-emission construction machinery. Despite their growing technological and environmental significance, a systematic synthesis of advancements in EWL design, energy optimization, and intelligent control remains [...] Read more.
Electric wheel loaders (EWLs) have emerged as a pivotal innovation in the 2020s, representing a transformative shift toward high-efficiency, low-emission construction machinery. Despite their growing technological and environmental significance, a systematic synthesis of advancements in EWL design, energy optimization, and intelligent control remains absent in the literature. To bridge this gap, this review critically evaluates over 140 studies for comparative analysis. Building on the authors’ ongoing research, this paper categorizes EWL architectures and examines breakthroughs in hydraulic systems, drivetrain configurations, and bucket dynamics optimization. A dedicated focus is placed on energy-saving strategies, including advancements in battery technology, fast-charging infrastructure, intelligent torque distribution, and data-driven modeling of shoveling and operational resistance. The analysis reveals that integrating optimal control strategies with machine learning algorithms—such as model predictive control (MPC)—is a critical pathway to achieving energy-efficient and assisted driving in next-generation EWLs. Furthermore, this review advocates for the adoption of distributed electro-hydraulic drive systems to minimize hydraulic losses and enable efficient energy recovery during actuator control. By synthesizing these insights, this work not only highlights current technological frontiers but also proposes actionable research directions to accelerate the commercialization of intelligent, sustainable EWLs. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Impact of Electric Vehicles on Power Systems and Society)
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