Towards resilient and low-carbon cities: Feasibility of grid-connected PV-based electric vehicle charging infrastructure for high-rise apartments in Korea

High-density urban housing poses a major barrier to electric vehicle (EV) adoption, particularly in the apartment-complex-dominated residential landscape of the Republic of Korea. Despite increasing interest in rooftop photovoltaic (PV)-assisted electric vehicle charging infrastructure (EVCI), existing studies rarely address the combined challenges of rooftop space constraints, grid import limitations, and the economic-environmental trade-offs faced by charging point operators (CPOs). To address this gap, this study investigates the design and feasibility of a grid-connected PV-energy storage-based EVCI tailored for Korean apartment complexes. The objective is to determine an optimal configuration that balances profitability, renewable energy utilization, and regulatory constraints on grid purchases. A scenario-based optimization framework is implemented in HOMER Grid under multiple grid purchase limits, using two energy storage systems (ESS): vanadium redox flow battery (VRFB) and lithium-ion battery. Key techno-economic and environmental indicators—including Net Present Cost (NPC), Cost of Energy (COE), CO 2 emissions, and Renewable Energy Fraction (REF), are evaluated to quantify performance. Results indicate that limiting the grid purchase to 80% with VRFB storage provides the most effective outcome, achieving an REF of 11.9%, an NPC of -1.39 billion KRW ( ≈ 1.03 million USD), a COE of 190.09 KRW/kWh ( ≈ 0.14 USD/kWh), and a payback period of seven years. A unique contribution of this work is the real-time validation of the optimized configuration through Typhoon-HIL simulation, demonstrating its practical viability. The findings suggest that CPOs should adopt strategies that jointly consider economic and environmental performance, enabling sustainable and equitable deployment of urban EVCI. • EV charging infrastructure designed for Korean residential apartments. • Emission reduction assessed in PV-based grid-connected EV charging. • HOMER Grid techno-economic analysis with Typhoon-HIL validation. • Comparative evaluation of flow and Li-ion batteries for ESS sizing. • Framework balances cost and sustainability for low-carbon urban mobility.