They’ve been championed as an eco-friendly alternative to traditional cars. But as more rechargeable electric vehicles (EVs) hit the road, how will the U.S. power grid—already strained due to record high temperatures and other factors—be able to meet the demand?
Here, we’ll discuss what’s happening with the power grid right now, what obstacles still need to be removed, and potential risks and benefits associated with the transition from gas-powered vehicles to EVs.
By 2030, Bloomberg predicts more than 50% of new cars purchased in the United States will be EVs. Heightened use of electric power in general is also expected, in applications including heating, cooling, and today’s computer-driven industries, which require electricity-hungry semiconductor chips. This will necessitate large-scale and expensive upgrades to our national power grid.
The United States has only recently put extensive resources into upgrading our energy infrastructure. The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, passed in 2021, dedicates more than $20 billion to upgrading our power grid. Portions of these funds are currently being allocated to:
These endeavors are both costly and complex. A study ordered by the California Public Utilities Commission projects that it will cost their state $50 billion to upgrade its grid to power the number of EVs it hopes to have on its roads by 2035. High-voltage transmission lines, which can effectively deliver power from a variety of sources to all corners of the country, must span myriad cities, counties, and states, and those areas fall under the authority of many different utility companies and regulatory agencies. Permitting can sometimes take more than 10 years.
Failing to prepare for the projected 18% increase in U.S. electricity demand by 2030—driven in part by the growing number of EVs—could have serious consequences.
As during the fuel crisis of 1973-1974, which saw nationwide gasoline shortages and long lines at the filling station, we could see similar situations at charging stations, with no end in sight.
So, what would happen if shortages became the norm? They could show up as power outages or blackouts, which wouldn’t just bring EVs to a halt: It could disrupt countless aspects of daily life.
There is some hope on the horizon for California, which is leading the way nationally on EVs despite an expensive road ahead. They’re working toward tripling their electric grid capacity ahead of their 2035 targets and producing significant energy through renewable sources. They’ve also forecast that EVs will only total about 4% of their energy demand in 2035 and therefore not place a major strain on resources.
The technology-focused publication Wired shared an interesting perspective: that EVs might not be a drain on the power grid but a boon to it and to energy consumers. Here’s why:
The need for workers to install the power lines that connect electric vehicle charging stations to the power grid, as just one example, will also lead to expanded job opportunities for those in that field. So, while the challenges of transitioning our power grid to accommodate EVs and our other needs are considerable, they may not be insurmountable and are certainly offset by some of the advantages that will likely result.
Curious about how electric vehicles will impact the U.S. power grid—or if the grid is even ready? Below, we answer some of the most common questions people are asking about EVs, electricity demand, and the challenges and opportunities ahead.
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Sources:
https://www.nytimes.com/2021/01/29/climate/gm-electric-cars-power-grid.html
https://www.cnbc.com/video/2023/07/01/why-the-us-power-grid-is-underprepared-for-the-ev-revolution.html
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