Effect of battery storage technology on the construction of electric vehicle charging stations

"Battery storage has become a critical component of electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure. However, whether and how battery storage may serve a crucial role in enabling fast-charging stations (FCSs) to fulfill customer demand and provide a profit for charging station operators is unclear. This thesis provides a better understanding of how to construct FCSs with integrated battery storage systems. The work is threefold. First, an in-depth literature review discusses EVs, details the types of charging stations and standards, and evaluates battery technologies. The review indicates that lithium-ion batteries are most promising for charging station applications followed by lead-acid and vanadium-redox batteries. Second, processes and considerations for installation of an FCS and battery storage unit are conducted. The results provide a cost estimation for various configurations of FCSs and battery storage costs based on battery size, type, and vendor. Third, a discrete event simulation (DES) model is developed to evaluate battery storage costs and characteristics for a network of FCSs in Southeast Michigan. The simulation finds that when considering network costs (i.e., the cost of setting up a new distribution line), no exchange of energy occurs and each of the FCSs requires more than one battery. When network costs are not considered, less exchange of energy occurs, and two-thirds of the FCSs require a battery. For this network, lithium-ion batteries cost the most whereas zinc-air batteries cost the least. Owing to high network costs, a highly condensed FCS network would provide higher benefit and result in lower total cost through battery units connected to a microgrid. This model is useful to stakeholders in this area (e.g., charging station operators, battery manufacturers, and vendors) to evaluate the battery costs and characteristics that fit their FCS network best."--Page ii.