Plug-In Electric Vehicle Integration

This authoritative resource provides a comprehensive introduction to plug-in electric vehicles (PEVs) and portrays a holistic overview of the challenges associated with the mainstream adoption of PEVs at three distinct layers pertinent to the technological, economic, and social aspects. From a technological perspective, the book discusses various critical enabling technologies, such as energy storage, electric charging standards (e.g., fast, slow, and bidirectional), power converters, and telecommunication technologies. It explains how the economic layer formulates and analyzes the interface and the interactions between the charging infrastructure and PEV drivers. These include addressing architecture and modes for designing sustainable charging infrastructures, energy storage sizing, capacity planning, and optimal placement of small- and large-scale charging stations. Furthermore, the decision mechanisms for optimal charging rates under various pricing schemes and user preference models are investigated thoroughly.
This unique volume also explains how mainstream adoption of PEVs necessitates integrating relevant social aspects into the technological and economic frameworks. Readers gain insight into the socioeconomic factors influencing individual preferences toward replacing gas-powered vehicles with PEVs. Specifically, the book analyzes the current purchasing behavior via relevant and widely adopted models, such as diffusion of innovations, theory of planned behavior, and rational choice theory. Additionally, this reference helps policy makers to prioritize and adjust incentive programs that facilitate mainstream PEV adoption. The book underscores how successful PEV integration requires coinvestigating and designing all three layers in a holistic framework.