Data-driven emission analysis of on-board chargers and large AC charging sites of electric vehicles

• Measurement data shows significant differences in on-board charger emissions. • Historical data indicates the growing impact of 11 kW on-board chargers. • Harmonic emissions above 11th order may be problematic due to voltage harmonics. • Future scenarios indicate no problems due to harmonic emissions. • Paper gives guidance to estimate, monitor and control harmonic emissions. Expansion of electric vehicles (EVs) is rapid, and it has led to the introduction of numerous EV models. The harmonic current emissions of the on-board chargers of EVs are analyzed in this article based on a large collection of measurement data from public charging sites. The objectives are to discover the emissions of the variety of EV models and to estimate their aggregated emissions in future scenarios. This article utilizes the measurement data of 109 EVs at rated power and 27 below rated power. The recent development of aggregated emissions is observed with a four-year measurement data of a 40-spot charging site. Aggregated emissions in the future are simulated in scenarios of the years 2030 and 2040. In the results, many EVs can be divided into groups based on the emissions. The emissions increase the steepest when below 10 A charging current. The highest harmonics are the 5th, 7th and 11th order, yet compared to the standards, the problematic harmonics are the 11th–19th order. The future scenario simulations indicate no problems with emissions. The major harmonics are the 3rd, 5th and 7th order and the years 2030 and 2040 have similar results. The simulation studies provide charging site-specific summation coefficients for the harmonics. This article contributes to the development of emission standards and methods to control and monitor the emissions of EV charging sites and gives guidance to estimate the emissions of a charging site for stakeholders involved in charging site design and operation.