Public Defence in Energy Technology, M.Sc. (Tech.), M.Sc. (Econ.) Johannes Einolander

Electric vehicle demand response and bidirectional charging improve household energy resilience and offer significant financial benefits.

Electric vehicles offer benefits that extend beyond driving-related advantages, providing significant utilization options when plugged into charging points. This doctoral dissertation focused on exploring the benefits and potential of demand response and bidirectional charging of electric vehicles using various novel modelling techniques.

The aim of the research was to develop new modelling methods, assess the potential and economic value of electric vehicle demand response, and evaluate how well Finnish households could utilize electric vehicles to minimize the impacts of power outages. The research is particularly relevant considering the ongoing energy transition and the global energy crisis that began in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic. The resulting significant fluctuations in electricity prices and the increasing risk of power outages have created considerable uncertainty for consumers.

The research findings provide valuable insights for decision-makers, companies, and consumers considering the purchase of an electric vehicle or a bidirectional charging station and participation in various demand response programs. The developed methods support further research and are applicable in commercial applications.

Based on the results, the rapidly growing electric vehicle fleets will become a significant source of demand response, offering substantial benefits for grid stability and possessing great economic potential. For households, electric vehicle demand response presents a valuable opportunity to reduce overall electricity costs. By utilizing bidirectional charging, households can also effectively avoid disruptions caused by power outages. Overall, it can be concluded that smart utilization of electric vehicles improves energy resilience at both the grid and household levels, and enables significant economic benefits for both businesses and consumers.

Doctoral Student: Johannes Einolander

Opponent: Prof. Samuli Honkapuro, LUT University, Finland

Custos: Prof. Risto Lahdelma, Aalto University School of Engineering, Department of Mechanical Engineering

The public defense will be organized in Lecture Hall M1, Otakaari 1.

The thesis is publicly displayed 10 days prior to the defense in the publication archive Aaltodoc of Aalto University. 

Contact information of doctoral student:

Doctoral theses in the School of Engineering: https://aaltodoc.aalto.fi/handle/123456789/49