Experimental Investigation of a Distributed Architecture for EV Chargers Performing Frequency Control

The demand for electric vehicle supply equipment (EVSE) is increasing because of the rapid shift toward electric transport. Introducing EVSE on a large scale into the power grid can increase power demand volatility, negatively affecting frequency stability. A viable solution to this challenge is the development of smart charging technologies capable of performing frequency regulation. This paper presents an experimental proof of concept for a new frequency regulation method for EVSE utilizing a distributed control architecture. The architecture dynamically adjusts the contribution of electric vehicles (EVs) to frequency regulation response based on the charging urgency assigned by the EV users. The method is demonstrated with two Renault ZOEs responding to frequency fluctuation with a combined power range of 6 kW in the frequency range of 50.1 to 49.9 Hz. The results confirm consistent power sharing and effective frequency regulation, with the system controlling the engagement of the EVs in frequency regulation based on priority. The delay and accuracy analyses reveal a fast and accurate response, with the cross-correlation indicating an 8.48 s delay and an average undershoot of 0.17 kW. In the conclusions, the paper discusses prospective improvements and outlines future research directions for integrating EVs as service providers.