Modelling the Impact of Uncoordinated Plug-In Electric Vehicles’ Charging Patterns on the Low Voltage Distribution Network

South Africa’s existing infrastructure predates the widespread adoption of PEVs, given the current energy crisis, the introduction of Plug-in electric vehicles (PEVs) charging activities into residential Low Voltage Distribution Network (LVDN) is anticipated to have adverse impact on various LVDN system parameters, such as potential for overloading transformers and lines, as well as the possibility of exceeding the voltage’s safe operational limits. This study models the impact of PEV charging activities on South Africa’s LVDN. Key factors to the study are, Voltage Unbalance Factor (VUF) and the Voltage Profile. Three scenarios are presented as case studies: Where Case Study 1 and 2 assesses PEV charging activities on the most and least loaded phase of the provided unbalanced network, including upstream and downstream charging at 50% and 100% charging rates, respectively. Results, show that integration on heavily loaded phases could potentially destabilize the network while charging on a least loaded phase reduces the unbalance factor. Case Study 3 adopts a stochastic approach to integrate PEVs into the network, providing a more realistic and dynamic overview of the potential impact. The LVDN and load profiles utilized in this study are derived from real-life data obtained from the City of Cape Town.