Work

Slow but Steady: Assessing the Benefits of Slow Public EV Charging Infrastructure in Metropolitan Areas

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: Vehicle-grid integration (VGI) is critical for the future of electric power systems, with decarbonization targets anticipating millions of electric vehicles (EVs) by 2030. As EV adoption grows, charging demand—particularly during peak hours in cities—may place significant pressure on the electrical grid. Charging at high power, especially during the evening when most EVs are parked in residential areas, can lead to grid instability and increased costs. One promising solution is to leverage long-duration, low-power charging, which can align with typical user behavior and improve grid compatibility. This paper delves into how public slow charging stations (<7.4 kW) in metropolitan residential areas can alleviate grid pressures while fostering a host of additional benefits. We show that, with respect to a reference (22 kW infrastructure), such stations can increase EV user satisfaction by up to 20%, decrease grid costs by 40% owing to a peak load reduction of 10 to 55%, and provide six times the flexibility for energy markets. Cities can overcome the limitation of private garage scarcity with this charging approach, thus fostering the transition to EVs.

Source: World Electric Vehicle Journal

DOI: 10.3390/wevj16030148

Authors: Giuliano Rancilio, Filippo Bovera, Maurizio Delfanti

Institution: Politecnico di Milano

Language: English

Topic: Electric Vehicles and Infrastructure

Subfield: Electrical and Electronic Engineering

Field: Engineering

Domain: Physical Sciences

SDGs: Industry, innovation and infrastructure, Sustainable cities and communities, Affordable and clean energy, Climate action

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $1,689