The global transition toward sustainable transportation has led to an unprecedented surge in the adoption of Electric Vehicles (EVs) and Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicles (PHEVs). While this shift is essential for decarbonization, the resulting high-power demand presents significant challenges for existing power grids. Smart Charging stands as the critical bridge between mobility and energy management, transforming EVs from passive loads into flexible energy assets. This call for participation invites researchers, engineers, and industry experts to contribute to a comprehensive exploration of the technologies and applications defining the future of EV-grid integration. We seek original contributions that address the technical, economic, and regulatory frameworks required to modernize the charging ecosystem.
One of the most critical problems in the field of Smart Charging is the risk of grid congestion and local transformer overloading caused by uncoordinated charging. When a large number of Electric Vehicles (EVs) connect to the grid simultaneously—typically during evening peak hours—the sudden surge in power demand can exceed the thermal limits of local infrastructure, leading to voltage drops, equipment failure, and even localized blackouts.
To address this, researchers are developing Dynamic Load Management (DLM) and Vehicle-to-Grid (V2G) systems. Achieving a resilient grid involves transitioning from a “fit-and-forget” model to an active management approach. This can be achieved through:
– AI-Driven Forecasting: Using machine learning to predict user behavior and grid capacity, allowing for proactive load shifting to off-peak hours.
– Standardized Communication: Implementing protocols like ISO 15118 to enable seamless data exchange between the vehicle, the charger, and the utility provider.
– Bidirectional Power Flow: Leveraging V2G technology to transform EVs into mobile energy storage units that can inject power back into the grid during peak demand.
By integrating these technologies, we can stabilize the energy ecosystem, maximize the use of renewable energy, and avoid the massive capital expenditure of traditional physical grid upgrades.
We invite contributors to submit original scientific papers that present significant technological or methodological innovations. Submissions must advance the state-of-the-art in the following themes:
– Intelligent Control: AI/ML for predictive charging, multi-objective optimization, and battery degradation modeling.
– V2X & Grid Services: Novel bidirectional power flow (V2G/V2H) strategies and Virtual Power Plant (VPP) aggregation.
– Infrastructure & Protocols: Innovations in ISO 15118-20/OCPP implementation, IoT-enabled management, and cybersecurity frameworks.
– Grid Resilience: Dynamic load management, peak shaving, and voltage/frequency regulation through fleet coordination.
– Renewable Synchronization: Advanced algorithms for aligning EV loads with volatile solar and wind energy.
– Emerging Hardware: Optimizations for ultra-fast charging thermal management and wireless power transfer.
Article types and fees
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Keywords: Vehicle-to-Grid, Demand Response, Load Balancing (Dynamic Load Management), Peak Shaving, Interoperability
Important note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.
