Optimizing Charging Infrastructure Management for Enhanced Grid Resilience

This study addresses the challenges of electrifying heavy-duty vehicle fleets, particularly school buses, by focusing on the development of dedicated depot charging infrastructure and grid resilience. A key challenge is managing recharging limitations while considering grid resilience in the electrification of school bus fleets. Using real operational data, the study introduces a two-phase approach to optimize both charging infrastructure and scheduling. In the first phase, the optimal number of chargers is determined to ensure sustainable fleet operations. In the second phase, charging schedules are refined to reduce peak power demand and improve grid resilience. Experimental results demonstrate that approximately half the fleet size is required in chargers, with distributed charging and peak shaving strategies reducing peak power demand by 20% to nearly 45%. These findings offer practical insights for fleet managers, grid operators, and policymakers on enhancing grid resilience and managing electrified fleets effectively.