Bidirectional EV Charging Station with Grid Stabilization and Power Quality Control

Abstract

This study presents a comprehensive evaluation of a bidirectional electric vehicle (EV) charging station designed to operate in three distinct modes. The proposed system integrates standard EV charging capabilities with grid-support functionalities, providing ancillary services such as harmonic compensation, power factor correction, and voltage stabilization. In the first mode, the charging station functions as a conventional charger, delivering Bidirectional power flow to the vehicle, used as the baseline for this work. In the second mode, it operates as a Shunt Power Active Filter (SPAF), reducing harmonic distortions and balancing load currents, effectively mitigating power quality issues caused by nonlinear loads. The third mode also incorporates reactive power control to regulate grid voltage. In all three modes, The EV Battery could provide power to the grid to help during peak demand periods or frequency deviations. Simulation results demonstrate that the proposed system significantly enhances power quality metrics, reducing both Total Harmonic Distortion (THD) and Total Demand Distortion (TDD) while maintaining a high power factor close to unity across varying load conditions. Additionally, the voltage regulation functionality in Mode 3 effectively maintains voltage within operational limits. The system's performance was validated through simulations and real-time Opal-RT testing, which confirmed its effectiveness under dynamic conditions. These findings suggest that adjusting EV charging stations with such multifunctional control capabilities can transform them into valuable assets in modern energy systems, supporting the integration of renewables and improving overall grid resilience.