Search Results (3)

Due to global environmental impacts, the electric vehicle (EV) adoption rate is increasing. However, unlike conventional petrol vehicles, EVs take a considerable time to charge. EVs on the road with different battery charging statuses and driving demographics may cause uncertain peak time arrivals at charging stations. Battery-swappable charging stations are a quick and easier way to replace uncharged batteries with charged ones. However, charging due to uncertain EV arrival causes higher charging profiles posing load to the grid, management of charged and discharged batteries, and peak time charging tariffs. These challenges hinder the wide operation of battery-swappable charging stations. Nevertheless, a pre-assessment of peak hours using EV demographics can reduce congestion. In recent literature surveys for battery-swappable charging stations, spot congestion has not been given much attention, which has a direct influence on the sizing and operation of battery-swappable charging stations. This research study is focused on estimating peak time events using a novel integrated techno-economic assessment framework. A fuzzy-based parametric assessment tool is developed that identifies the factors that influence higher congestion events. Based on the peak event assessment, grid, and solar PV-based generation is optimized using mixed integer linear programming. In the final step, an environment analysis of a swappable charging station is performed. Furthermore, the results achieved using the proposed framework for battery-swappable charging stations (BSCSs) were compared with fast-charging (FC) stations. FC can economically perform well if integrated with solar PV systems; however, the capital cost is 80% greater than the BSCSs designed under the proposed framework. The operational cost of BSCSs is 39% higher than FC stations as they use 29% higher grid units than FC stations due to night operations under congestion. Full article

China proposed a development direction of “new infrastructure” in 2020, due to the ongoing scientific and technological revolution and industrial transformation. The charging station industry is one of the seven industries of the “new infrastructure”. Hence, it is of great importance to study China’s electric vehicle charging infrastructure industry. Based on game theory, this study analyzes the game strategies for the evolution of actors in China’s electric vehicle charging infrastructure industry. Firstly, the Chinese government has classified the industry according to the subsidy for charging piles and battery swapping stations. Then, the government, operators, and consumers constructed an evolutionary game model. The results show that: (1) under the investment subsidy mode, the purchase cost that consumers invest in purchasing traditional fuel-consuming vehicles has a positive impact on the operator’s production enthusiasm. In addition, the government’s subsidy amount has a positive impact on consumers’ decision to purchase battery-swappable electric vehicles; and (2) under the operational subsidy mode, due to the government’s strong supervision of the industry, there is a positive correlation between the word-of-mouth effect and the consumer’s decision to buy rechargeable electric vehicles. Full article

This study proposes a modular bidirectional converter system for hot-swappable energy storage systems (ESSs). The proposed modular converter has a four-leg interleaved structure, and therefore it can reduce input current ripples and is suitable for secondary cells. Moreover, if any of the legs fails, hot-swap is available through phase control inside the converter. The modular converter uses an independently controllable battery as an input power source, allowing the charge and discharge control according to each stated of charge (SOC). The output voltage of the converter circumvents the module in the event of a high-voltage output control and a fault (exchange due to battery life, repair of converter) through the cascade-type bypass, thereby enabling continuous operation. The hot-swap operation of the proposed modular ESS converter system and the charge and discharge control algorithm according to battery SOC are verified by experiment. Full article