Grid Impact Studies from Dynamic Wireless Charging in Smart Automated Highways

Abstract

Autonomous and electrified mobility are two key developments expected in the next decade to improve the efficiency and reduce carbon footprint of transportation. As electric vehicles (EVs) increase on the roads, one of the issues that needs to be addressed is range anxiety. To mitigate this problem and for seamless integration of EVs, dynamic wireless charging is an attractive solution. In this paper, a few case studies are considered in a smart autonomous highway to understand the impact of dynamic wireless charging on grid dynamics. The studies show that the grid voltages vary significantly due to the dynamic wireless power transfers (DWPTs), if connected to the existing grid. The variations in the grid voltage can reduce power transfers, increase grid instability, and cause inadvertent protection triggers. The inadvertent protection triggers can reduce the reliability of the connected grid. These problems highlight the need for modern grid infrastructure to support DWPT systems.