Balancing the Grid: How Electric Vehicles Pose Challenges and Solutions

As the world transitions towards a more sustainable future, the adoption of electric vehicles (EVs) is rapidly increasing. However, this shift presents significant challenges to the power grid, as it will dramatically increase electricity demand.  

Tesla CEO Elon Musk has expressed concerns about the lack of urgency in anticipating the increased electricity demand that will result from the widespread adoption of EVs. Speaking at a Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E) summit in July, Musk stated that whatever the current predictions for electricity demand are, they are likely too low. He urged the power sector to anticipate much higher demand, as the transition to a sustainable energy future will necessitate a tripling of electrical output.

The U.S. has had fairly static electricity demand for a while, but as that demand starts to increase, additional power generation and transmission infrastructure needs to be brought online much faster. This is a significant challenge for the power sector, which has had limited growth over the years. The transition to renewable energy also brings challenges of intermittency and seasonal variability, further complicating the situation.

One solution being explored to manage the variability of renewable generation and the increased electricity demand from electrification and EVs is bidirectional charging. Bidirectional charging allows EVs to not only draw power from the grid but also feed power back into it. This technology could boost California's power supply as it ramps up its ambitious agenda of electrifying its cars, trucks, and buses while switching to 100% clean energy.

During a historic 10-day heat wave that threatened brownouts across California, a small San Diego County school district used bidirectional charging to capture excess power from its electric school buses and sent it back to the state’s overwhelmed grid. The seven school buses provided enough power for 452 homes each day of the heat wave, and the buses were recharged only during off hours when the grid was not strained.

Bidirectional charging also presents challenges. The technology would add thousands of dollars to the cost of an electric car, and utilities are still sorting out how to pay ratepayers for selling them the kilowatt hours. Also, the reliability of vehicles as a year-round power source is questionable.

Pilot programs are underway to study bidirectional charging and how EV owners could be compensated for selling energy to the grid. The federal government is also providing financial support to utilities grappling with the energy transition.

The transition to EVs will require significant changes in the power sector, shifting from a mindset of 'operate and maintain' to a mindset of growth. This will require not only technological innovation but also regulatory changes and a rethinking of how the power sector operates.

EKN Engineering is well-positioned to help utilities address the challenges posed by the increased demand on the power grid due to the rise of electric vehicles. With a focus on asset health, EKN uses advanced data analysis and diagnostic tools to proactively locate areas of potential grid failures and schedule preventative maintenance, enhancing grid reliability. Through rigorous work verification processes, EKN ensures all grid work meets high standards of quality and safety. Additionally, by bundling related tasks, such as grid maintenance work, EKN can achieve greater efficiency and cost savings, making the transition to accommodate EVs more efficient and cost-effective.