EV Smart charging strategies for reduced operating costs and grid impact: a case study on workplace charging infrastructure

The rapid growth of electric vehicles (EVs) presents new challenges for electrical grids due to the additional concentrated demand on the system. However, the inherent flexibility of EV loads offers significant opportunities to mitigate these impacts through smart charging strategies. This study investigates the benefits of implementing Vehicle-Grid Integration (VGI) solutions at a workplace charging infrastructure. Two smart charging logics were tested: “Minimum Power”, designed to flatten consumption profiles, and “Optimal Power”, aimed at minimizing operating costs and peak power withdrawals. Both strategies demonstrated significant peak power curtailment and reduced grid energy consumption, particularly when combined with photovoltaic (PV) systems. In this case, energy withdrawals from the grid can be reduced by up to 40%, and monthly peak power load cut by up to 70%. By optimizing the timing and power levels of EV charging sessions, these strategies significantly alleviate grid impact and maximize economic benefits, reaching yearly operating costs savings between 33% and 70% depending on the considered scenario. These findings underscore the critical role of smart charging in supporting large-scale EV adoption while ensuring grid stability.