Driving patterns significantly influence electric vehicle (EV) charging sensitivity through their impact on energy demand timing and coincidence of charging events:
1. Trip Frequency and Distance
Driving frequency directly determines charging frequency and duration. For example:
- Short daily trips (~30 km) often lead to opportunistic charging after each trip, increasing overlap in charging sessions and raising peak grid loads.
- Longer weekly mileage (e.g., >400 km/week) may require planned high-power charging, which can still contribute to peak loads but often with better predictability.
2. Plug-In Behavior
Drivers’ decisions on when to plug in heavily depend on driving habits:
- Immediate post-trip charging (common with frequent short trips) creates high coincidence factors, especially with slow chargers (e.g., 11 kW), as overlapping sessions amplify grid stress.
- Threshold-based charging (e.g., charging only when battery falls below 30%) spreads demand more evenly, reducing peak sensitivity.
3. User Segmentation and Charging Preferences
Studies identify five behavioral profiles influencing charging patterns:
- Cost-sensitive planners and calculated users optimize for off-peak tariffs, reducing sensitivity.
- Range seekers prioritize fast charging during trips, increasing localized grid strain.
- Flexibility seekers charge opportunistically at diverse locations, complicating load predictability.
- Indifferent late adopters emulate ICE refueling habits, favoring high-power public chargers during peak hours.
4. Grid Impact Sensitivity
- Coincidence factors (simultaneous charging) drop below 25% for groups >50 EVs with 11 kW chargers, but smaller clusters see higher sensitivity.
- Battery size has minor influence compared to plug-in behavior, with larger batteries only slightly reducing charging frequency.
Key Takeaway
Driving patterns dictate when, where, and how often EVs charge, directly affecting grid load variability. Mitigating sensitivity requires accommodating diverse user behaviors through dynamic pricing, smart charging incentives, and infrastructure tailored to local mobility trends.
Original article by NenPower, If reposted, please credit the source: https://nenpower.com/blog/how-do-driving-patterns-influence-the-sensitivity-of-ev-charging/
