Electric vehicle charging strategies in residential communities: Permissible penetration levels and emissions

Mehta P, Tiefenbeck V, Staake T (2026)

Publication Type: Journal article

Publication year: 2026

Journal

Energy Reports Elsevier

Book Volume: 15

Article Number: 108978

DOI: 10.1016/j.egyr.2025.108978

Abstract

This study investigates the impact of three electric vehicle (EV) charging strategies on distribution transformer overloading and charging emissions. Real-world GPS-tracked mobility profiles are used to simulate EV charging, and power balance simulations quantify transformer overloading for combinations of seven residential community sizes, four driver groups and five EV penetration levels. High spatio-temporal resolution emissions intensity data inform EV charging emissions estimates. Findings indicate that while all three charging strategies allow 20% EV penetration, greater penetration depends on community size and the charging strategy. The results further illustrate how grid operators can update transformer sizing conventions to accommodate 100% EV penetration. In the absence of local photovoltaic generation, charging slowly overnight minimizes transformer overloading but maximizes emissions, insinuating trade-offs. However, even with current levels of local PV generation, charging during sunshine hours may, on average, already emit and overload the least, mitigating trade-off concerns between distribution grids and the environment.

Authors with CRIS profile

Prakhar Mehta Juniorprofessur für Digitale Transformation Verena Tiefenbeck Lehrstuhl für Digitale Transformation

Involved external institutions

Otto-Friedrich-Universität Bamberg DE Germany (DE)

How to cite

APA:

Mehta, P., Tiefenbeck, V., & Staake, T. (2026). Electric vehicle charging strategies in residential communities: Permissible penetration levels and emissions. Energy Reports, 15. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.egyr.2025.108978

MLA:

Mehta, Prakhar, Verena Tiefenbeck, and Thorsten Staake. "Electric vehicle charging strategies in residential communities: Permissible penetration levels and emissions." Energy Reports 15 (2026).

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