14 August 2024
Transport electrification seems unavoidable in view of decarbonization and the fight against climate change. This is integral to the Québec 2030 Plan for a Green Economy. The number of electric vehicles in Québec, currently estimated at 2 million units, is expected to reach 4 million by 2035. We must now plan for vehicle charging in a variety of problematic contexts as well as battery recycling at the end of their life cycle. Forty percent of Québec’s population live in multi-unit residential buildings. Québec intends to rely on a network of charging stations to support the target increase of two million electric vehicles.
Charging in a Multi-Unit Context
Transport electrification in Québec presents challenges in terms of energy management and accessibility, especially for multi-unit residential buildings. Some companies have taken on the technological challenge of developing energy management systems for charging stations in such dwellings. The first residential electric charging stations on the market were designed to operate individually, charging a single vehicle at a time. The simultaneous charging of several vehicles in the same building can cause the power demand to exceed the building’s electrical input capacity. When considering the use of all parking spaces, we must acknowledge the likely saturation of 600 V transformers and the building’s main electrical input capacity.
Potential solutions such as updating the electrical infrastructure can prove very expensive. Energy management systems are another option. Thanks to dynamic load-shedding techniques, the industry has rapidly adapted to offer new devices capable of charging multiple vehicles without having to increase the capacity of the building’s electrical panels or of their electrical distribution provider.
Studies and data already exist on the consumption patterns of electric vehicles. However, the electricity consumption patterns of cars combined with those of households remain unknown, especially on days of high energy demand. Hydro-Québec introduced rate incentives to reduce consumption during peak hours by offering reduced rates for off-peak consumption. Advances in connected technology now enable public participation in power management programs aimed at levelling demand during critical periods.
Energy Management System for Electric Vehicles
In collaboration with RVE, ÉTS is deploying a data collection prototype to better understand charging habits. Based on the data collected, a first generation of algorithms for an electric vehicle energy management system (EVEMS) is being developed. Algorithm development is a complex process requiring rigorous validation. The industry is, therefore, continuing its efforts to better understand the impact on building infrastructure. We propose to continue our research into this type of system, which will reduce peak demand and distribute power intelligently between residents’ needs and those of their electric vehicles.
To achieve this goal, we must design automatic measurement methods for assessing the power consumed by electric vehicles while charging and analyze the risks of interaction with household demand. The analysis of charging behaviour in multi-unit environments can be improved through laboratory learning and soon-to-be-deployed systems. Algorithms for individual charge controllers must also be fine-tuned. Over the long term, electrical demand management should focus on reducing consumption peaks, including those linked to electric car charging, while integrating other objectives—such as renewable energies and grid resilience improvement—to meet the needs of the population.
With a well-established data collection system, we’ll be able to better understand the effects of recharging on building infrastructure. This will allow us to improve EVEMS algorithms and forecast future power distribution needs.
Incorporating Batteries Into a Circular Economy
Electric mobility is increasing our need for batteries. Eventually, batteries will reach the end of their useful life. By 2030, it is estimated that between 60,000 and 90,000 batteries will have to be discarded. Batteries contain strategic (and toxic) materials such as lithium, nickel, cobalt, manganese and graphite. Recovery of these materials is critical for both environmental and economic purposes. We must start considering the infrastructure needed to incorporate them into a circular economy.
Before even considering recycling batteries, the technical challenges associated with reuse—such as the variable conditions of used batteries and safety standards—must be addressed. We must also see whether they can be reused for other applications requiring lower performances than electric vehicles. For example, they could be used to store intermittent green energy—solar or wind power—or in commercial and residential applications.
Overcoming Logistical Challenges
First and foremost, the safety of batteries must be assessed in order to consider their reuse, which can be done using system reliability models. However, their value must also be assessed to determine the most appropriate use. Evaluation criteria include residual capacity, remaining life and safety. This can be done using statistical models and artificial intelligence based on data analysis. Finally, it will be necessary to select, recondition and group batteries to get the most out of them, depending on their intended use.
Incorporating batteries into a circular economy will require tackling the many logistical challenges of recovering and transporting materials and safe storage for the factories involved in battery life cycles. Specific challenges include the cost of reverse logistics, environmental risk management and hazardous material transport regulations.
