Impact of electric vehicle adoption on residential load profiles: An Australian case study

This is the authors' abstract. We don't add key points for this paper.

The decarbonization of the transport sector and the transition toward net zero energy systems are accelerating the adoption of electric vehicles and rooftop photovoltaic systems in residential buildings. These technologies can significantly reshape household electricity demand and influence the operation of electrified homes. Understanding their combined impact on residential load profiles is essential for effective building energy management and planning of distributed energy resources. This study investigates the effects of electric vehicle ownership and rooftop photovoltaic adoption on residential electricity consumption using smart meter data from 2868 households in Victoria, Australia. Households are categorized into four groups based on the presence of electric vehicles and rooftop photovoltaic systems. Clustering analysis is used to identify representative weekday and weekend load patterns across different seasonal temperature ranges. The results show that households with electric vehicles exhibit substantially higher evening electricity demand, with average peak loads increasing by approximately 35 to 45 percent compared with households without electric vehicles. Rooftop photovoltaic adoption significantly reduces daytime net demand, lowering midday grid electricity use by up to 50 percent during high solar generation periods. Households combining electric vehicles and photovoltaic systems display distinct load characteristics, including reduced daytime grid dependence and increased overnight charging demand. Seasonal analysis indicates that temperature conditions influence the magnitude and timing of these patterns, particularly during extreme weather periods. Economic assessment under current tariff structures shows that rooftop photovoltaic systems can offset 30 to 40 percent of the additional electricity costs associated with electric vehicle charging. These findings provide empirical evidence on how electrification technologies reshape residential energy use and highlight the importance of coordinated strategies that integrate electric vehicles and distributed solar generation in residential buildings.