Decentralized EV charging network with tokenized access and adaptable scheduling

Abstract

With the growing prevalence of electric vehicles (EVs), electrical grids face increasing strain due to heightened demand and potential overload during charging. This paper proposes a tokenized Ethereum-based framework that enables charging point operators (CPOs) and stations (CSs) to manage EV charging requests while ensuring grid stability through time flexibility (adjustable durations) and power flexibility (dynamic load modulation). Smart contracts automate peer-to-peer trading of charging parameters like energy needs and time limits, shifting loads to off-peak hours and adjusting prices based on real-time grid capacity. Simulations reveal that EV users who adopted time- and power-flexible charging experienced a 42% increase in participation compared to those using rigid, fixed-rate systems. Two scenarios were tested: 1) requests every 15 minutes on a 33 kW grid, where smart charging achieved a 71% efficiency improvement over uncontrolled charging and increased acceptance rates from 38% to 70%; and 2) consecutive requests to the same CSs, where acceptance rates rose from 23% to 43%, with smart charging reducing peak-to-valley load differences by 43–50%, flattening demand profiles. The system, developed on Ethereum using Remix IDE and MetaMask and tested on the Sepolia testnet, demonstrates higher electricity sales, improved grid stability, and enhanced flexibility in time, power, and cost. Tokenization incentivizes participation through rewards, allows users to bid for priority slots via proof-of-stake (PoS), and ties reputation metrics to token costs. Practical Byzantine Fault Tolerance (PBFT) ensures fault tolerance, while dynamic pricing and monetized flexibility create scalable EV-grid synergy, balancing supply-demand mismatches and attracting investors.