Smart EV Charging and Peak Load Management Using Threshold -Based Control Algorithm

The increasing adoption of Electric Vehicles (EVs) presents significant opportunities for sustainable transportation while also creating new challenges for electrical power distribution networks. Uncontrolled and simultaneous charging of multiple EVs can increase peak demand, cause excessive loading of distribution components, and negatively affect the stability and reliability of the power grid. Therefore, intelligent management of EV charging demand is essential for the effective integration of Electric Vehicles into future Smart Grid systems. This research presented a Smart Grid Based EV Charging System with Load Balancing to address the challenges associated with uncontrolled EV charging. The proposed system monitors the electrical load condition and dynamically manages the charging of connected EVs according to the available power capacity and predefined charging priorities. An Arduino-based control system was considered for the hardware implementation, where sensors are used to monitor electrical parameters and relay modules are used to control individual EV charging loads. The proposed load balancing approach reduces simultaneous charging during peak demand periods by temporarily delaying or controlling lower-priority charging loads. During normal and off-peak conditions, the available power capacity can be utilized more efficiently by allowing additional EVs to charge. This approach helps distribute the charging demand over time, reduce peak loading, and minimize excessive stress on the electrical power system. The experimental implementation demonstrates the feasibility of using an Arduino-based controller for intelligent EV charging management at a prototype level. By continuously monitoring the load condition and applying appropriate charging control decisions, the proposed system can improve the utilization of available electrical power while maintaining the charging operation of connected EVs. The comparison between uncontrolled and controlled charging conditions indicates that coordinated EV charging can provide better load distribution and reduce peak demand. Overall, the proposed Smart Grid Based EV Charging System with Load Balancing provides a simple and cost-effective approach for managing the increasing charging demand associated with Electric Vehicles. The proposed concept can be further developed for large-scale EV charging infrastructure by integrating advanced communication technologies, renewable energy sources, IoT-based monitoring, cloud platforms, and optimization algorithms. The system can also be enhanced by considering real-time electricity pricing, battery State of Charge (SOC), user charging preferences, and battery degradation. Therefore, intelligent EV charging and load balancing can play an important role in achieving reliable, efficient, and sustainable integration of Electric Vehicles into future Smart Grid environments.

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