Integration of electric vehicles into the urban power grid: The case of Hakkari province

The growing environmental issues stemming from fossil fuel consumption and the increasing demand for sustainable energy policies have necessitated profound transformations in both the transportation and energy sectors. One of the key actors in this transformation is the electric vehicle (EV), which stands out with its low carbon emissions and high energy efficiency. The proliferation of electric vehicles can lead to serious problems in case of sudden loads, imbalances and infrastructure deficiencies in city networks and uncontrolled integration of EVs. This study examines the integration of electric vehicles into the city grid as a simulation study in Hakkari, one of Türkiye's eastern provinces with limited infrastructure capacity. In this context, three basic scenarios were considered: uncontrolled charging, scheduled charging, and V2G (Vehicle-to-Grid). Simulated analyses were conducted for each scenario, and criteria such as load profile, voltage balance, and energy efficiency were evaluated. The findings show that the uncontrolled charging scenario causes significant loads on distribution transformers, while the scheduled charging strategy maintains system stability by spreading energy consumption over specific time periods. V2G implementation, on the other hand, demonstrates that electric vehicles can be used not only as energy consumers but also as energy providers, thereby increasing the reliability and flexibility of the city grid. This analysis, based on the example of Hakkari province, provides a model for regions with similar social and technical structures and has important implications for future electric vehicle infrastructure planning. It also aims to contribute to new planning and sustainable transportation strategies at the distribution system level in Turkey.