Smart Charging for Electric Ride-Hailing Vehicles using Renewables: A San Francisco Case Study

Abstract

Charging large fleets of electric ride-hailing vehicles (ERVs) is a complex matter that could serve different objectives: lower carbon dioxide emissions, lower monetary expenditures, or maximize solar photovoltaics (PV) energy consumption. Currently, it is unclear how each of those objectives could impact the business and performance of a ride-hailing fleet. In order to fill this gap, this article employs a dynamic transportation model: a smart charging simulation that combines agent-based, discrete-event, and system dynamic modelling by comparing the above-mentioned objectives in separate scenarios. The results show that each scenario successfully manages to shift between 34% and 87% of all load to hours of the day when the objectives of those scenarios are met. Therefore, in comparison to the baseline, smart charging can save between 5% and 26% of monthly emissions and between 4% and 57% of monthly expenditures. The solar PV scenario, however, results in the highest savings, while ensuring profitable economics via net metering in the short- as well as long term. Finally, the sensitivity analysis points to important trade-offs between several fleet performance metrics. The article concludes by giving business and policy recommendations for maximising the economic, energy and environmental efficiency of large ERV fleets.