Abstract:
The global automobile industry is evolving toward electric vehicles (EVs) in order
to mitigate the environmental impact of fossil fuels emitting 23% of greenhouse gas
(GHG) globally. The existing grid infrastructure is being strained. Adoption of EVs
comes with its own set of difficulties. Currently, charging station infrastructure is
extremely limited, and the majority of existing charging stations are powered by the
utility grid. Photovoltaic charging infrastructure for electric vehicles may contribute
to the reduction of GHG emissions. The optimal configuration of grid-connected
photovoltaics (GCPV) for electric vehicle charging stations (EVCS) on the existing
services along the Islamabad-Lahore motorway section of the China- Pakistan
Economic Corridor (CPEC) eastern route is assessed technically and economically
in this research, with a focus on cost-effective charging of EVs while taking
environmental emissions into account, in accordance with Pakistan's energy
economics. The estimated EV load model is designed using National Highway
Authority (NHA) data. The findings reveal that 300 kW GCPV system for EVCS is
the investment efficient based on highest net present value (NPV) among all
GCPV’s. The results demonstrate that the systems generate 461,802 kWh and
437,845 kWh of energy annually at a levelized cost of electricity (LCOE) of around
3.11 ¢/kWh and 3.28 ¢/kWh in Islamabad and Lahore, respectively. It has a payback
time of 2.4 years, making the suggested GCPV system for EVCS economically
viable. The research will assist in identifying comparable GCPV sites on South
Asian highways. Moreover, the combination of GCPV electricity and EVCS may
provide an opportunity for investment and long-term sustainability in the EV sector
of developing countries.
