Researchers from the FAMU-FSU College of Engineering, Tennessee Technological University, and Louisiana Tech University have developed and tested a control framework for extreme electric vehicle (EV) fast-charging stations that’s designed to support grid stability while improving resilience to cyberattacks.
Researchers tested 300-kW extreme fast-charging controls that, in the study scenario, could charge a 50-kWh EV battery in about ten minutes.
The study, published in IEEE Transactions on Industry Applications, evaluated charging stations capable of delivering up to 300 kW per vehicle. At that power level, the researchers modeled charging a 50-kWh EV battery in about ten minutes.
The team used a real-time electromagnetic transient hardware-in-the-loop testbed at Florida State University’s Center for Advanced Power Systems. The test environment represented an IEEE 123-bus distribution network with multiple extreme fast-charging stations and EVs connected simultaneously.
Heavy charging demand caused significant voltage drops in the simulated distribution system. The researchers applied Volt-VAR and Volt-Watt control strategies that allowed the charging stations to adjust their power behavior in response to grid conditions. In the tested scenarios, the controls kept system voltage above 0.92 per unit compared with levels below 0.7 per unit without the additional support.
The charging stations were also configured for bidirectional operation, allowing them to exchange power with the grid rather than functioning only as large electrical loads. This gave the researchers a way to evaluate how fast-charging infrastructure could contribute to voltage regulation during periods of high demand.
Cybersecurity was tested by introducing man-in-the-middle attacks that altered charging commands and disrupted grid operation. The study found that the same coordinated control strategies used for voltage support also improved the system’s ability to maintain stable operation during the simulated attacks.
“Developing high-fidelity digital twins lets us evaluate new technologies before they are used and deployed in the field,” said Ravikumar Gelli, associate professor at the FAMU-FSU College of Engineering and Florida State University’s Center for Advanced Power Systems.
The research was conducted by Gelli with Ankit Yadav, a postdoctoral researcher at Tennessee Technological University, and Arif Hussain, an assistant professor at Louisiana Tech University. The work began while members of the research team were at Iowa State University.
The researchers said the hardware-in-the-loop platform could be used to validate new charging controls and cybersecurity protections before they are deployed in operating charging infrastructure.
“The charging station of the future should do more than recharge vehicles,” Yadav said. “It should also strengthen the reliability, resilience and security of the electric grid while advancing clean transportation.”
References
Sources: IEEE Transactions on Industry Applications, “Attack Resilient Extreme Fast-Charging Stations using Volt-VAR and Volt-Watt Controls” IEEE paper; FAMU-FSU College of Engineering, “New Electric Vehicle Charging Station Technology Delivers 10-Minute Charging Without Straining the Grid” FAMU-FSU research article
Filed Under: Charging, Technology News