Comments on: Electric Car Boom Could Deliver a Surge in Grid Power

By: Brian Wynne

Brian Wynne — Tue, 03 May 2011 22:11:49 +0000

This article presents a skewed, hypothetical scenario about the potential impact of charging electric vehicles (EVs) on the national power grid. Speculating about the impact of mass EV charging during peak hours without taking into account electric grid infrastructure improvements, demand management technologies, varying vehicle configurations and consumer charging habits distorts the realities of the evolving grid. The electrical grid has the capacity to meet existing and expected demand. Utilities and energy planners nationwide are already working to match improvements in power infrastructure to adoption of electric vehicles. That is what utilities did when U.S. homeowners adopted central air conditioning and, more recently, multiple flat screen TVs. And it is what is happening now with cars.

By claiming that electric vehicles will be “hell” on the grid without providing context for this assertion, the article misinforms readers about the expected impact of EVs on the electric grid and the demand management strategies and technologies already in place and those on the way. Studies have shown that electric grid capacity is expected to be sufficient to support the charging of electric vehicles. For example, a study by the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory concluded in November 2007 that 73 percent of the nation’s light duty vehicles could be recharged with existing excess utility capacity. A report by Oak Ridge National Laboratory for the U.S. Department of Energy revealed that by 2030 just eight additional power plants nationwide may be needed to support high-demand levels for charging more than 50 million EVs after 10 p.m. These findings correctly point out we can achieve the air quality, emissions and national security benefits of the electrified transportation with a modernized grid that empower consumers and utilities to make efficient charging choices.

Brian Wynne, President
Electric Drive Transportation Association
Washington, DC
http://www.electricdrive.org

By: Lisa Laughner

Lisa Laughner — Mon, 02 May 2011 21:16:43 +0000

If neighborhood transformers can’t handle the power demands from electric vehicles, why wouldn’t their owners invest in home electric power generators and charge up ‘off grid’ any time day or night? If the generator is fueled by natural gas, it is is a clean source of energy. Plus you would have back up home power when your neighbors’ EV’s blow the transformers!

By: Stating the obvious

Stating the obvious — Mon, 02 May 2011 12:27:59 +0000

Instead of worrying so much about the mass costs associated with the existing grid, just put a timer on the dedicated charging line for the vehicle, so that it charges during the off-peak hours. Trust me, if enough people in an area actually crash their local grid enough times, they’ll gladly shell out $25-50 for a timer to avoid the hassle of remembering to get back up and plug it in when they go to bed.

By: Steven Lough

Steven Lough — Sat, 30 Apr 2011 18:06:45 +0000

These folks must be measuring the KWH drain of the average EV with some kind of “made in his own Garage” instrument. Folks from Puget Sound Energy , at a recent meeting focusing on EV Charging and Infrastructure… stated that the load would be close to what a Hot Water heater uses. NOT a Whole House.. Not even Half a House.
Why don’t these people ask folks who have been using EV’s for YEARS or in my case 30 years !! We know what the Watts per miles ARE. About 250 watt/hours per mile. LESS for something REALLY efficient, and probably MORE for something heavy, like a Pick-Up Truck. That is One Forth of a Hair Dryer per mile. And the Average EV Driver drives around 8000 miles a year so that is apronx 2000 KWHours, or in Seattle …. $ 160. dollars !!
GO TO the Electric Power Research Institute and READ their study on this.

By: Jeff St. John

Jeff St. John — Fri, 29 Apr 2011 19:49:57 +0000

Thanks for comments, all. I would say a new house load would be a maximum limit to the load that a plugged-in vehicle would add to the local grid, using a Level 2 charger. I appreciate the clarity that your comments bring to the comparison as well. Even so, the problem of everyone plugging in when they come home between 5-7 p.m. will remain one that needs to be addressed, either by beefing up the local grid, or managing charging…

By: Christof

Christof — Fri, 29 Apr 2011 16:04:50 +0000

Actually, each EV is more like adding 1/2 a household in the U.S., not a full household.

The typical American household uses 8,000 to 10,000 kWh a year.

Most EVs will use 3,000 to 5,000 kWh a year based on the U.S. average of 12 – 15,000 miles of driving per year. This will vary quite a bit too, based on the miles per kWh people get.

By: Felix Kramer

Felix Kramer — Fri, 29 Apr 2011 15:03:38 +0000

Alarming headline and early paragraphs followed by more reality. A whole house? My Chevy Volt looks to the grid like a hairdryer– a bit more than a kilowatt an hour. My Nissan Leaf is like a couple of plasma TVs. Even if fully discharged, it can charge starting at 11pm and have a full electric tank by morning. Most people will charge at home, off-peak.

– Felix Kramer, Founder, CalCars.org