The Integration of Electric Vehicle Chargers Into a Trolleygrid Network

Abstract

Battery electric vehicles have gained a substantial market share in the last few years. The call for good charging infrastructure is urgent with the rapid shift from carbon-based cars toward battery electric vehicles. However, the present electrical distribution networks are not designed for large additional loads. Many cities have traction networks such as trams, metros, or trolleybuses for public transport purposes. This thesis explores the potential for charging electric vehicles directly from these traction networks. A case study uses public charging behavior to simulate EV charging on the trolleygrid network of Arnhem. Moreover, six smart grid methods are evaluated to increase a traction network's electric vehicle charging potential. Various trolleygrid parameters such as the trolleybus intensity, section length, and the charger's location on the trolleygrid play a role in the charging potential. An individual area can fully charge up to 111 electric vehicles daily. This study shows that increasing the substation capacity and introducing smart charging are the two smart grid methods that increase the potential up to 201 EVs/day. Adding an extra overhead line has a minor effect on the charging potential (+12 EVs/day). Increasing the substation nominal voltage has the same impact as the last mentioned method but is cheaper to implement. At the connection point of two isolated sections, the best smart grid methods are introducing a bilateral connection and using a multi-port converter. Charging battery electric vehicles from traction networks could be a suitable alternative to increase the charging possibilities in cities.