Interactive Tool to Enable Electricity Distribution Utilities in India Assess the Grid Impact of Electric Vehicles
The share of electric vehicles (EVs) in transportation has risen to 20 percent in 2023, doubling in just two years. This rapid growth affects the electric grid, requiring upgrades and robust charging infrastructure. India's FAME II initiative supports over 1.5 million EVs, complemented by state-level policies. To address grid challenges, the ELEVATE tool has been developed, using Monte Carlo simulation and linear programming to assess EV impacts on distribution transformers and aid in effective planning.
The share of electric vehicles (EVs) in the overall transportation mix has been steadily increasing, reaching about 20 percent in 2023. This increase represents a 10 percent increase over only the past two years (Bloomberg NEF 2023). This spurt in growth, however, impacts the electric grid, necessitating well-planned upgrades and charging infrastructure to accommodate the increasing number of EVs. India’s initiative, Faster Adoption and Manufacturing of (Hybrid &) Electric Vehicles in India (FAME India) – II, aims to support over 1.5 million EVs across various categories.1 Several states have also introduced their own EV policies. To address the challenges posed by this rapid EV growth for the electric grid, a new tool called ELEVATE has been developed by the authors. It allows users to input scenarios to assess the impact of EVs on distribution transformers (DTs).
The tool employs Monte Carlo simulation and linear programming techniques to create scenarios to calculate the future grid load, considering factors such as the electricity usage of different categories of users such as residential, industrial, and commercial users. ELEVATE enables distribution companies to meet the increasing load on DTs through effective planning, potentially deferring immediate upgrades and ensuring the smooth integration of EVs into the electric distribution grid.