Contents lists available at ScienceDirect Applied Energy journal homepage: www.elsevier.com/locate/apenergy Assessment of flexible electric vehicle charging in a sector coupling energy system model – Modelling approach and case study Philip Sterchele a , Konstantin Kersten b , Andreas Palzer a , Jan Hentschel b , Hans-Martin Henning a, ⁎ a Fraunhofer ISE, Heidenhofstraße 2, Freiburg im Breisgau 79110, Germany b Volkswagen AG, 38436 Wolfsburg, Germany HIGHLIGHTS • Representation of BEV in a large scale energy system models. • Comparing constant and driving profile-based approach to model BEV energy demand. • Real driving profile-based BEV energy demand increases energy system costs. • FCEVs can substitute BEVs to avoid appearing peaks in power demand. • Energy system costs can be reduced by applying V2G technology. ARTICLEINFO Keywords: Energy system modelling Sector coupling Flexibility Load balancing Renewable energy Motorized private transport Battery electric vehicles Driving profiles ABSTRACT The transition of the motorized private transport sector from fossil fuel to electricity-based technologies is a widely discussed strategy that can contribute towards the achievement of the set climate protection targets. To accurately analyse the challenges and opportunities associated with this transition, the entire energy system needs to be considered in a holistic way. This study introduces two different methodological approaches for the assessment of battery electric vehicles. Both are implemented into the sector coupling, structure optimising model REMod and assessed for a future, nearly CO 2 neutral German energy system. The results show that realistic driving profiles could lead to simultaneous vehicle charging, which result in higher peak loads and eventually require an increase in power plant capacity. The model shows that once vehicles are charged irrespective of the residual load, electricity-demanding technologies throughout all sectors are progressively replaced by hydrogen or other gas-based technologies, as these options do not lead to an increase in electricity demand. This development negatively impacts the deployment of electric heat pumps and battery electric vehicles, which would play a major role otherwise. The cost-optimal system configuration can be achieved through implementation of a controlled charging strategy, shaving power load and supply peaks, in- tegrating more power from variable renewable energy sources and reducing the yearly overall system costs by several billion Euros. 1. Introduction 1.1. Background International efforts to limit greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions as well as decreasing price levels of renewable energies are leading to a substantial transformation of national energy systems all over the world [1,2,3]. Further, increasing market penetrations of electricity-de- manding technologies are expected [4,5]. Particularly the road trans- port sector is likely to experience a shift from vehicles fuelled by ga- soline or diesel to electricity-based power train technologies. Compared to the global car stock, however, electric vehicles represent a small fraction (0.2%). Even though it is obvious that various political and industry stakeholders [6] are willing to shift towards electrified pow- ertrains [7], how fast and to what extent these technologies will impact market shares remains unclear. Energy system models are important tools for assessing opportunities and challenges linked to the integra- tion of vehicles with electrified drive trains into the energy system. 1.2. State of knowledge Over the last few years, various studies were published addressing https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apenergy.2019.114101 Received 10 April 2019; Received in revised form 17 October 2019; Accepted 7 November 2019 ⁎ Corresponding author. Applied Energy xxx (xxxx) xxxx 0306-2619/ © 2019 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. Please cite this article as: Philip Sterchele, et al., Applied Energy, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apenergy.2019.114101