Utility-led smart electric vehicle charging for demand response and grid management

• India is the world’s fifth-largest automobile market, and vehicles contribute 20% to 40% of particulate matter emissions in major cities
• Electrification of transportation is a powerful and effective solution to the challenge of hazardous air quality plaguing Indian cities like Delhi, which regularly tops global lists of poorest air quality
• Public policy initiatives and financial incentives in India are beginning to drive the shift towards electric mobility
• During peak charging periods, utilities foresee a surge in demand, and are looking at smart/managed charging as a potential solution
• Smart charging can allow proactive monitoring, management, and manipulation of energy consumption, resulting in a lower cost of energy, higher resilience, and an electric grid that can support more EVs

In its initial steps, assessments were carried out to highlight the benefits of managed charging to the project counterpart, BSES Yamuna Power Limited (BYPL), and other key stakeholders. This included procuring equipment for setting up charging stations on pilot sites, experimentation with three-and-four-wheel electric rickshaw fleets and gathering data to assess the demand-side management potential.

Key results of the assessments included:

• For three-wheelers, managed charging could be more useful during the peak summer months to decongest the grid. High economic savings could also be achieved simultaneously, with an average ~13% cost reduction when the load is shifted from peak to non-peak hours
• Overall, economic savings could be achieved by the utilities from managed charging. These savings could be passed on to the consumers as incentives for participation in demand-response events. For example, with the addition of more advanced metering infrastructure and formalisation of time-of-use tariffs, these savings could be passed on in the form of EV charging tariffs reduction
• Passing on the benefits of managed charging to EV users, especially to e-rickshaw drivers, would directly support low-income communities
• Policy support to reduce the initial investments needed for setting up charging stations would be required for faster rollout of charging infrastructure

The findings about the possibility and potential benefits of managed charging initiatives were shared in discussions between various industry stakeholders, including power distribution utilities, charge point operators, and EV users. Through the pilot project, the team demonstrated the managed charging capabilities, benefits, and challenges in introducing managed charging for electric three and four-wheelers.

To develop a smart charging proof of concept and gender-inclusive policy recommendations in the absence of gender-disaggregated data, the project investigated women drivers’ EV charging needs. This was done by engaging with charging point operators, fleet operators, and female EV drivers to identify and record specific needs and concerns of women. The research found that their primary concern is safety when using public charging stations, while many lacked the knowledge needed to feel comfortable entering the EV space. The findings also confirmed that charge point operators do not collect gender-disaggregated data to track different charging behaviours.

BYPL was requested to identify women-friendly charging stations for the pilot activities. The project also ensured that a gender balanced team was engaged, and a good female representation was present in outreach activities (e.g., webinar and Q&A videos).

Low-income groups were also considered in the project. The majority of the electric three-wheeler drivers are from low-income communities in Delhi. The team worked with BYPL to identify charging stations which primarily cater to low-income communities. The project plan included running managed charging experiments at two of these charging stations.

GESI-related findings were integrated when developing targeted policy recommendations for a managed charging programme that can benefit women and low-income groups.

Learnings indicate that managed charging:

• Requires buy-in from utility, regulators, union and state governments, and EV users
• Should establish the benefits for the grid while determining suitable incentives for consumers and stakeholders

A top-down, mandatory implementation may not be effective due to varying levels of EV shares across provinces/states, plus differing energy mix and load profiles. The project identified this framework for utilities to implement managed charging programmes per service area:

1. Undertake data-driven consumer behaviour assessments, identifying user patterns and behaviours to design strategies
2. Assess requirements by evaluating utility load profiles and demand response needs
3. Ensure smart charging infrastructure and establish communication protocols within service areas

Considerations of women’s and low-income communities’ different charging needs must also be integrated into solutions.