Highly Sensitive Adaptive Protection for EV‐Integrated Distribution Networks

Integrating electric vehicle (EV)‐charging infrastructure presents environmental advantages, particularly in curbing carbon emissions within the transport sector and promoting sustainable energy solutions. However, the ascending adoption of EVs transforms the operational dynamics of low‐voltage distribution networks by introducing bidirectional power flows that challenge conventional overcurrent protection schemes. Traditional protection systems cannot effectively manage the complexities of variable load conditions and bidirectional energy transfers, specifically Grid‐to‐Vehicle (G2V) and Vehicle‐to‐Grid (V2G) operational modes. These scenarios require the development of advanced, dynamic, and real‐time protection mechanisms that are robust against challenging, faulty scenarios and cybersecurity threats. This study introduces an adaptive protection scheme that utilises digital overcurrent relays, LoRa‐enabled sensors, a battery management system (BMS) and a central protection unit (CPU). This integrated framework dynamically recalibrates relay settings based on real‐time grid conditions, ensuring optimal protection coordination during both G2V and V2G operations by employing a new optimisation algorithm called the transit search algorithm (TSA) and comparing the result to the water cycle algorithm (WCA). To assess the effectiveness of the proposed adaptive approach, simulations were performed on a 33‐bus IEEE benchmark network, investigating a variety of fault scenarios and operation grid scenarios. The results indicate that the proposed system significantly mitigates relay miscoordination and reduces fault clearance durations, thus enhancing reliable protection in distribution networks with high EV penetration.