The Role of the Electric Vehicle in Smart Homes: Assessment and Future Perspectives

Abstract

The wide spreading of electric mobility is imposing the application of new technologies of hardware and software for supporting new operation paradigms, not only in the perspective of improving smart grids, but also each time more in the perspective of boosting the preponderance of smart homes. Concretely, nowadays it is clear that the emergent technologies for smart homes, targeting power quality and a more efficient power management, are also altering the conventional electrical power grids toward smart grids. In this panorama, by relating the strategic pillars of electric mobility and smart homes, this paper has as main objective the characterization of the role of the electric vehicle (EV) in smart homes, presenting a broad assessment based on the state of the art, as well as creating a link with upcoming advanced operations. From the smart home point of view, since it should be equipped to deal with the requirements of the EV, the assessment of both on-board and off-board EV battery charging systems are considered along the paper. Furthermore, the presence of technologies such as energy storage systems, renewable energy sources and dc electrical appliances in smart homes towards sustainability is also reflected in this paper, but framed from the point of view of an off-board EV battery charging system, since it is more convenient for enabling the interface of these mentioned technologies. Looking the paper as a whole, a relevant contribution is the discussion of future operations for the EV in smart homes, also envisioning the opportunity for ac, dc, or hybrid power grids. Illustrative and strategic results are shown, covering all these features with specific details, not only based on numerical simulations, but also based on experimental results, which were obtained with a proof-of-concept laboratory prototype.

Interfacing Power Electronics Systems for Smart Grids: Innovative Perspectives of Unified Systems and Operation Modes

“…One of the key elements to the success of the massive assimilation of EVs is the efficient and flexible EV charging technologies. EVs can be plugged-in, e.g., through on-board and off-board chargers, and wireless chargers (inductive wireless power chargers) [19]. Under the smart grid paradigm, EV chargers must be able to operate considering different operating modes, which can allow a controlled bidirectional flow of active and reactive power.…”

“…A closer look at key EV technologies, including operation and control algorithms for grid interoperability, can be found in [26]. To this end, the EV-OBC must operate under different modes, such as [19]: (i) Grid-to-vehicle (G2V) mode, which allows control active power from the grid to the EV batteries (with power management by the user or grid); (ii) Vehicle-to-grid (V2G) mode, in which is delivered active power to the grid (partially discharging the batteries), according to grid requirements and EV user interest; (iii) Home-to-vehicle (H2V) mode, which allows to control the EV current according to the total current at home, both during the charging and discharging processes; (iv) Vehicle-for-grid mode (V4G), which allows, in the perspective of the grid, to control the active / reactive power, and that can include also the operation as an active power filter, allowing the EV to compensate current harmonics of other electrical appliances; and (v) Vehicle-to-home (V2H) mode, where the EV operates as a voltage source, as an off-line UPS for smart homes. On-board and off-board EV chargers were developed, considering such characteristics.…”

“…On-board and off-board EV chargers were developed, considering such characteristics. The detailed design and architecture of each developed power electronics system can be found in [19][25] [27].…”

“…As key point, this challenge of integrating technologies through unified systems (i.e., with a common and single interface with the power grid), contribute to improve efficiency [19]. A common infrastructure supporting RES and EV charging, designed for parking lots, is proposed in [20].…”