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The electric vehicle is one alternative form of transportation that has gained importance over the last few years due, in part, to pollution-free operation. Electric vehicles in their charging mode generate magnetic fields. Over the last few years these fields have been investigated for possible health hazards. A study was undertaken to measure and evaluate the magnetic field generated within a charging station. The 1993 Arizona Public Service Solar and Electric 500, a race for solar and electric vehicles held at Phoenix International Raceway, offered an excellent opportunity to collect data on the magnetic field generated within a charging station. Quantification of the magnetic field is necessary to predict the level of the field, the location where the maximum field is generated, distribution of the field within the charging area, etc. An electric vehicle requires both periodic and fast charging times.

An area of electric vehicle (EV) racing which will require substantial study is the racetrack battery charging facility. During the 1993 third Annual APS Solar and Electric 500 race at Phoenix International Raceway (PIR) the generated current harmonics were monitored for various groups and types of battery chargers operating at the time. Measurements were taken on the low voltage side of the single phase supply transformer which supplied the charging station. Input current waveforms were recorded for 26 different chargers. The purpose of this paper is to show measurement results and statistically predict what the impact on the racetrack power system when large numbers of battery chargers are operated simultaneously. A statistical simulation was performed by adding randomly selected combinations of the digitized current waveforms which had been recorded at the racetrack charging facility. The THD was calculated for each iteration of the simulation.