Francesco Lo Franco received his M.Sc. (cum laude) in Electrical Engineering from the University of Bologna in 2019 and his Ph.D. in Automotive for Intelligent Mobility in 2023. He has been involved in academic and industrial research on electric vehicle charging, renewable energy integration, and energy storage systems. He worked as a postdoctoral researcher at Movyon S.p.A. He is currently Assistant Professor at the University of Bologna, Department of Electrical, Electronic and Information Engineering, and Professor of the course “Photovoltaics and Energy Storage Systems”. His research focuses on renewables and energy storage systems, predictive methods based on AI, electric vehicle charging and optimized management systems.
Lecture: Overview on Electric Vehicles and EV Charging Systems
This talk provides an introduction to electric vehicles (EVs) and their charging infrastructure. The course compares EV technology to traditional internal combustion engine vehicles, highlighting key differences in components, performance, efficiency, and environmental impact. A detailed examination of EV components, including the battery, electric motor, and power electronics, will help illustrate how EVs work. The seminar also discusses factors that affect range and energy consumption. Finally, the course examines the charging infrastructure, covering charging levels, station types, and the challenges of integrating EV charging into the electrical grid.
Lecture: Integration of Renewables in EV charging infrastructures
The growing penetration of distributed renewable energy sources and the increasing number of electric vehicle (EV) registrations play a significant role in the energy transaction. However, the increasing share of intermittent renewables combined with the high and uncontrolled aggregate EV charging demand requires an evolution towards new planning and management paradigms of electrical systems. In this context, this talk will provide an overview of possible solutions to optimize the integration of aggregate EV charging with renewable energy sources in urban scenarios. In particular, the course will provide insights into:
- EV charging demand calculation algorithms
- System modeling and sizing optimization
- Smart Charging methods