Abstract:

Norway has been a leader in e-mobility growth for many years, and the country now has one of the most developed EV markets in the world. With a growing number of interested stakeholders and an increasing number of EVs on the lane, Norway presents a unique opportunity to test creative charging approaches. This paper discusses the Inspiria charging station facility in Norway, which enables various charging point operators to offer different charging systems for different purposes and needs. The charging station can be considered a specific case of a shared economy, as users share the same infrastructure and much of the same space. By utilizing new technology and the differences in charging needs in an innovative way, the power requirements for charging can be controlled and the severity of high-load periods can be reduced—both within the charging station’s system and outside it. Using historical traffic data from the Inspiria charging station’s area and Monte Carlo simulations, this study investigated the impact of charging on the grid—both in the current period and in the future. Attention was paid to the impact associated with the usage of superfast chargers. The possibility of containing grid disturbances through utilization of local flexibility was investigated. Finally, this study investigated the benefits that the charging station model brings to charging point operators and car owners. The findings support plans for a faster roll-out and higher density of cost-effective charging points, with broader implications for the transition to fossil-free transportation and the use of locally produced, renewable energy. The current study could thus serve as a reference point for future studies on the e-mobility topic in which different means of peak load management are considered.