Assessment of low-power electric vehicle charging at UCLouvain: A techno-economic and behavioral analysis of a cost-effective and scalable alternative to conventional charging infrastructure

Details

Supervisors

Contino, Francesco

Faculty

Ecole polytechnique de Louvain

Degree label

Master [120] : ingénieur civil en génie de l'énergie , à finalité spécialisée

Abstract

enUniversity campuses combine a growing demand for electric-vehicle charging with long and relatively predictable parking periods. These conditions may allow drivers to recover their daily mobility-related energy at powers well below those of conventional Mode 3 AC stations, typically rated from 7.4 kW to 22 kW. This thesis assesses reinforced low-power sockets as a cost-effective and scalable alternative for long-duration parking at UCLouvain. The case study combines a campus mobility survey, parking observations, a charging-demand simulation accounting for variability in vehicle use, a pilot experiment using two reinforced sockets near Hall Stévin, and a comparative techno-economic assessment. Across simulated fleets of 55 to 550 vehicles, reinforced sockets deliver about 97% of the energy requested and fully satisfy more than 90% of sessions, the residual shortfall being concentrated in stays shorter than about four hours rather than spread across the fleet. Diversity holds the aggregate peak of 550 vehicles near 1.1 MW, against 4.8 MW for the same spaces rated at 22 kW, and a reinforced point costs around EUR 900 against roughly EUR 10 000 per point in a 2024 campus design study at 11 kW. Pilot participants recovered more range than their commuting required and their ratings held after use. The study ultimately identifies the user profiles, site conditions and operating rules under which low-power charging can provide a useful and scalable campus service.