A Communication-free EV Charger for Residential Households

The rapid adoption of electric vehicles (EVs) presents various challenges to power system operators, particularly when it comes to integrating them effectively into residential distribution networks. The key concerns include under-voltage conditions, rapid changes in power demand, and increased loading on distribution transformers. However, these issues can be alleviated by regulating the charging rates of EVs. This article introduces a communication-free EV charge controller that utilizes nodal voltage and voltage-to-load sensitivity. Furthermore, a novel approach for voltage sensitivity estimation is proposed, which can be implemented with low-cost voltage and current sensors. Simulation results demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed controller in mitigating under-voltage issues and considerably reducing power losses. Moreover, the voltage sensitivity approach enables the EV charge controller to ensure fairness among the EVs located at different points within the network. Finally, the complexity analysis is performed, and a practical implementation plan of the proposed EV charge controller is discussed.