Abstract
The increasing global adoption of Electric Vehicles (EVs) necessitates a greater supply of electricity for charging these cars. The popularity of EVs is also driven by their minimal maintenance requirements, enhanced performance, and eco-friendly nature. However, the expanding usage of EVs poses challenges to the distribution system's efficiency, thereby impacting its reliability. Consequently, ensuring the precise placement of electric vehicle charging stations (EVCS) becomes crucial for maintaining a dependable infrastructure. Solar and wind-based Renewable Distributed Generations (RDGs), Distribution STATic COMPensator (DSTATCOM), and Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) have become an important part of a Radial Distribution System (RDS) for mitigating the impact of EVCS as environmental sensitivity has grown and technology has advanced. Improper placement and sizing of components in can significantly impact the performance of a RDS. This research proposes a unique approach utilizing the Slime Mould Algorithm (SMA) and other optimization algorithms to identify the optimum positioning and sizing of RDG/DSTATCOM/EVCS/BESS within the RDS. The presented approach's efficacy is showcased by employing it on two commonly used IEEE RDSs: specifically, the 33-bus and 69-bus systems. The main objective of this research is to address actual power loss in these systems, subsequently enhancing voltage stability and bus voltage profiles. Findings from the test cases demonstrate that optimizing with the SMA algorithm produces more precise results in mitigating real power loss, enhancing bus voltage levels, and improving overall system stability when compared to existing algorithms.