When smart charging meets smart users: How price-sensitive plug-in behavior reshapes EV integration

The rapid adoption of electric vehicles (EVs) presents both opportunities and challenges for energy systems. While smart charging algorithms have been widely studied to optimize EV charging schedules, the role of EV users' plug-in behavior that precedes any smart charging remains largely unexplored. This study addresses this critical gap by approximating the human plug-in decision-making process through an agent-based simulation model, capturing how EV users adjust their plug-in behavior in response to status of charge and dynamic electricity prices. Furthermore, we evaluate the impact of plug-in behavior on EV users' charging cost, battery lifetime, and EV fleet peak power demand. Our numerical analysis reveals that a price-sensitive plug-in behavior can substantially decrease charging cost and generally extend battery lifetime, though some users may experience shorter battery lifespans due to deeper discharge cycles. Moreover, this behavior also leads to synchronized charging patterns, increasing peak power demand, and potentially straining grid infrastructure. These findings reveal the trade-off between user benefits and grid operation drawbacks, underscoring the need for holistic approaches in the assessment of EV user behavior. Furthermore, our study highlights the importance of user engagement in smart charging technologies.