Analysis of the Wider Aggregated Electric Vehicles Utilisation in Electricity Markets - Finnish Case Study

Abstract

The accelerating adoption of electric vehicles (EVs) offers significant potential for supporting electricity markets. This study integrates a heuristic modeling tool with a revenue estimation model to evaluate EV contributions in the Finnish electricity markets for 2025 and 2030. The heuristic model determines the number of EVs required to provide three key balancing products-FCR, aFRR, and mFRR-under varying flexibility levels including wholesale-participation, accounting for consecutive-hour charging and discharging patterns. Results demonstrate that secure supply over extended periods depends on these temporal patterns, with EV capacity requirements fluctuating by product and ramping direction. Introducing flexibility via participation in wholesale markets reduces the necessary EV fleet for year-round supply. The estimated revenue shows that profitability depends on bi-directional EV-charger cost, vehicle type, and operational flexibility. Policy interventions, particularly promoting bi-directional chargers, are critical to unlocking EV-flexibility. Without such measures, substantial EVbased resources remain untapped by 2030, despite projected market growth.