New doctoral research by Muhammad Tabish Parray shows how parked electric vehicles can act as mobile batteries, helping large facilities cut electricity costs while easing pressure on the power grid.
A new doctoral thesis by PhD candidate Muhammad Tabish Parray shows that parked electric vehicles (EVs) can play a decisive role in future energy systems. By treating long‑term parked EVs as mobile batteries, large facilities such as airports can reduce electricity costs, support grid stability, and prepare for emerging demands such as electric aviation.
“Cars spend most of their time parked. This makes them an untapped resource that can strengthen the grid without building new power plants,” Parray says.
Modern power systems rely heavily on flexibility to balance renewable energy production and demand. EV‑based flexibility also aligns with broader sustainability goals. By using existing vehicle batteries, large facilities can reduce emissions, lower costs, and support a more resilient power system.
Using Oslo Airport as a case study, his research combines real‑world parking data, multi‑year electricity prices, and advanced optimization models to evaluate how EV fleets can function as mobile energy storage. The results show promise for integrating EV flexibility into future infrastructure planning.
EV fleets outperform stationary batteries
In his thesis, Parray demonstrates that EVs used as mobile storage provide significantly higher economic returns than traditional stationary battery systems. In one analysis year, the optimal EV‑charging configuration achieved a return on investment exceeding 1000%, compared to approximately 200% for stationary batteries.
This advantage arises because the facility does not invest in the battery capacity itself, the EV owners already supply it. Facilities only need to invest in smart and bidirectional chargers and the software that manages them.
A strategic mix of chargers works best
Although bidirectional chargers allow energy to flow from the vehicle back to the grid, the research shows that only around 20% of chargers need to be bidirectional to capture most benefits. As EV adoption increases, the optimal proportion decreases to approximately 10% by 2030.
This means facilities can avoid unnecessary infrastructure costs while still enabling advanced energy services.
Advanced algorithms increase savings by 44%
A central contribution of the thesis is the development of a multi‑stage optimization framework. By coordinating EV charging across several energy markets, including peak‑load reduction, energy arbitrage, and participation in grid‑balancing services (Frequency Containment Reserve (FCR‑N)), the algorithm increased total savings by approximately 44%, compared to optimizing in a behind-the-meter setting.
Preparing for electric aircraft
Looking ahead to 2040, the research models the impact of short‑haul electric aircraft on airport electricity demand. These aircrafts introduce extremely high and concentrated power spikes. Smart EV fleets could help smooth these peaks, reducing strain on local grids and limiting the need for costly network upgrades.
Research Approach
The study combines:
- Eight years of electricity demand data from Oslo Airport (2015–2022)
- One year of parking records, covering more than 1.1 million entries
- Historical electricity prices and grid tariffs
- Scenarios for EV adoption through 2050
- Projected energy needs for electric aircraft in 2040
Mathematical optimization models were used to test how EV fleets could reduce peak loads, schedule charging intelligently, and participate in electricity markets. Both stationary and mobile storage solutions were evaluated to determine their technical and economic performance.
Potential Impact
According to Parray, the implications extend far beyond airports:
“Any large facility with long‑term parking, universities, hospitals, logistics centers, could benefit from this approach.”
The research offers:
- A blueprint for strategic planning of EV infrastructure
- Tools for evaluating the economic viability of flexibility services
- Insights into how software‑driven optimization will shape future energy systems
As electric mobility and renewable energy continue to expand, these findings provide guidance for both policymakers and facility managers.
Muhammad Tabish Parray will defend his PhD “Strategies for optimal sizing and operation of battery storage systems and electric vehicle infrastructure for large electricity consumers” Tuesday 17 March, 2026.
Trial lecture and public defense are open to all. Read more about that here.