A holistic review of electric vehicle charging impacts on power distribution networks: Technical challenges, smart mitigation strategies and future directions

Electric Vehicles (EVs) have emerged as a pivotal solution in the global transition toward sustainable transportation, offering significant reductions in greenhouse gas emissions and dependence on fossil fuels. The growing adoption of EVs is anticipated to significantly influence electrical power distribution networks. As EV adoption accelerates worldwide, their integration into existing electrical distribution networks poses considerable challenges, particularly concerning load demand, voltage stability. Recent research has increasingly focused on understanding and mitigating these impacts, through a wide array of analytical, simulation-based, and data-driven methods both with and without the implementation of network management strategies. However, a comprehensive, integrated synthesis of these studies linking technical findings with mitigation strategies and practical implications is still limited. Additionally, there is a lack of a thorough review consolidating the existing research on this subject, which is essential for understanding the scope of prior studies. Motivated by this gap, this review paper provides a critical and consolidated examination of the current literature on the impacts of EV on distribution networks. The paper's objective is to assess the comprehensive effects of EV integration and evaluate mitigation strategies across three core domains: network management, EV and Distributed generation (DG) coordination, and regulated charging solutions. The paper also introduces the role of artificial intelligence in enabling predictive, adaptive, and scalable solutions. It highlights key methodologies, data sources, modeling approaches, and the efficacy of various solutions while identifying prevailing research gaps and future directions, including real-time co-simulation, techno-economic assessments, and hybrid planning frameworks. Key outcomes of this study include a unified framework for understanding EV interactions with the grid and distribution network, a comparative analysis of mitigation approaches, and a set of recommendations for advancing research and deployment strategies. These findings aim to inform stakeholders about the latest advancements and support decision-making. The findings are particularly beneficial for utility providers, network planners, policymakers, charging infrastructure developers, and researchers seeking to develop robust, data-informed strategies for managing EV impacts and guide them in addressing unresolved challenges.