Precisely assessing electric vehicle hosting capacity (EVHC) is critical for ensuring the secure integration of EVs and optimizing the use of distribution network resources. Although optimization-based methods such as Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO) can identify a high theoretical HC under steady-state voltage constraints, these static formulations fail to capture short-term dynamics such as photovoltaic (PV) intermittency and uncoordinated EV arrivals. As a result, the hosting capacity that can actually be used in practice is often reduced to a much lower capacity to keep the system operating safely. This study compares optimization-based and simulation-based HC assessments and introduces a Weighted Average Power Estimator (WAPE)-based dynamic control framework to preserve the higher HC identified by optimization under real-world conditions. Case studies on a modified IEEE 13-bus system show PV drops of 90% during a 4-s cloud event. Studies also demonstrate that a sudden clustering of multiple EVs would significantly lower effective HC. With WAPE control, the system maintains stable operation at full HC, holding the bus voltage within an acceptable range (400–430 V) during the two events, representing a 2–3% voltage improvement. In addition, WAPE allows the EV to continue charging at a lower rate during disturbances, reducing the total charging time by almost 10% compared with completely stopping the charging process. Overall, the proposed WAPE substantially improves the usable and sustainable HC of distribution networks, ensuring reliable EV integration under dynamic and uncertain operating conditions.
The rapid proliferation of Electric Vehicles (EVs) offers a promising pathway toward reducing greenhouse gas emissions and fostering a sustainable environment. However, the large-scale integration of EVs presents significant challenges to distribution networks, potentially increasing stress on grid infrastructure. To address these challenges, this study proposes the integration of a Virtual Power Plant (VPP) framework within EV charging stations as a novel approach to facilitate dynamic power management. The proposed framework integrates electric vehicle (EV) scheduling, battery energy storage (BES) charging, and vehicle-to-grid (V2G) support, while dynamically monitoring energy generation and consumption. This approach aims to enhance voltage regulation and minimize both EV charging durations and waiting periods. A modified IEEE 13-bus test network, equipped with six strategically placed EV charging stations, has been employed to evaluate the performance of the proposed model. Simulation results indicate that the proposed VPP-based method enables dynamic power coordination through EV scheduling, significantly improving the voltage stability margin of the distribution system and efficiently reduces charging times for EV users.