Mobile Charging Services for the Internet of Electric Vehicles: Concepts, Scenarios, and Challenges

Electric vehicles (EVs) are one important enabler for the evolution of sustainable transportation sector. However, one major barrier to the widespread adoption of EVs is their limited battery capacity and the excessive time required to fully charge depleted batteries. Although techniques such as charging with a rapid charger and battery swapping may partially alleviate such concerns, the corresponding high capital investment may not be profitable for areas with low EV adoption rates. Moreover, the diversified charging demands of randomly distributed EVs, both spatially and temporally, restrict high-quality services from current fixed charging stations (FCSs). To resolve such challenges, mobile charging services (MCSs) have been investigated as a supplemental charging method for EVs, wherein energy replenishment is provided by mobile charging vehicles (MCVs). Under the framework of the Internet of EVs (IoEV), this article describes the concept of MCSs and investigates their charging merits under some distinct charging scenarios, e.g., real-time response service and emergency rescue service. A case study concerning real-time response services is investigated to illustrate the influence of MCSs on the current charging system. Simulation results demonstrate the ability of MCSs to improve the quality of charging service by reducing the average service time and service acceptance ratio. Finally, technical challenges, future research issues, and possible methodologies regarding the MCSs for EVs are discussed.