Design and Techno-Economic Feasibility Study of a Solar-Powered EV Charging Station in Egypt

This research focused on determining the technical and economic feasibility of the design of a solar-powered electric vehicle charging station (EVCS) in Cairo, Egypt. Using HOMER Grid, hybrid system configurations are assessed technically and economically to reduce costs and ensure reliability. These systems incorporate photovoltaic (PV) systems, lithium-ion battery energy storage systems (ESS), and diesel generators. A comprehensive analysis was conducted in Cairo, Egypt, focusing on small vehicle charging needs in both grid-connected and generator-supported scenarios. In this study, a 468 kW PV array integrated with 29 units of 1 kWh lithium-ion batteries and supported by time-of-use (TOU) tariffs, were used to optimize energy utilization. This study demonstrated the feasibility of the system in a case of eight chargers of 150 kW each and forty chargers of 48 kW. Conclusions suggest that the PV + ESS has the lowest pure power costs and reduced carbon emissions compared to traditional network-dependent solutions. The optimal configuration of USD 10.23 million over 25 years, with lifelong savings, results in annual savings of tool billing of around USD 409,326. This study concludes that a solar-powered EVC in Egypt is both technically and economically attractive, especially in the light of increasing energy costs.