But is it good news for the electrical grid? The grid can handle even the most challenging conditions. However, there’s a big difference between running on electricity and relying on it.

In light of this, we have to ask: Is the electrical grid capable of supporting EVs?

The Need for Electric Vehicles

The IPCC has released a report opposing those who believe EVs will overload the electrical grid. The report states that solar, wind, and electric vehicles can prevent catastrophic climate change. It also states that time is running out, which makes the transition vital for our planet’s stability.

Electrek says the U.S., German, and French electrical grids will not be overloaded. In addition, Portugal will speed up its 80% clean energy target by four years, from 2030 to 2026, with electricity recently added to the grid coming from renewable sources—further evidence that renewable energy is here to stay.

Did you know that EV batteries can also be recycled? Depleted EV batteries can be put to some surprisingly great uses. It is particularly useful to recycle old EV batteries to make new ones. As a matter of fact, this is already being done, and it’s fantastic for the environment.

America’s Electrical Grid and Usage

The electrical grid in the United States is a vast and complex network. It delivers electricity to homes and businesses across the country. It comprises thousands of miles of transmission lines and hundreds of power plants. They all work together to meet the electricity demand of American consumers.

In a 24-hour period, baseline power plants operate based on average usage. Baselines are as close as possible to minimal energy demands. A power plant is turned on when the electricity demand rises above the day’s baseline.

Dirtier and environmentally harmful power plants are used to make up for the difference. It is for this reason that time-of-use billing has become more common. The term time-of-use billing refers to consumers who are charged more during peak usage periods.

Peak usage times are in the evening when people come home from work, and activities are the highest. Electric vehicles are cool because they can be charged overnight when electricity demand is at its lowest.

How Do Electric Vehicles Affect the Electrical Grid?

Electric vehicles are considered to have a positive impact on the electrical grid. They reduce the demand for fossil fuels and push the grid to be more efficient in the process.

Yet, some potential challenges need to be considered. One is infrastructure upgrades to support the increased demand for electricity. Another is the potential for increased demand during peak periods.

Thankfully, electric vehicle sales are increasing slowly, giving utility and tech companies time to find solutions to accommodate them.

Adjusting to the Energy Demands of Electric Vehicles

Electric vehicles accounted for just 4% of vehicle sales in 2021. Some supply issues may need to be resolved if EV sales match or surpass petrol vehicles. Offering incentives to charge EVs during off-peak hours is the easiest way to solve this problem. The 2022 federal tax credit is available for electric vehicles in the U.S., and it’s simple to find out which EVs Qualify.

Without such measures, upgrades to the electrical grid would cause higher electricity costs. According to a Boston Consulting Group study, electricity costs would remain roughly the same if incentives to charge EVs at night were observed. Otherwise, rates could rise by 2%.

Using incentives to reroute demand to charging at night will also save on the number of grid upgrades required. As most electric vehicles recharge at night, EV owners can take advantage of cheap and plentiful electricity.

The same Boston Consulting Group study stated a “decrease of roughly 70% in transmission and distribution costs per EV through 2030—from $5,800 in the nonoptimized charging scenario to $1,700 in the optimized scenario.”

Some utility companies offer incentives to stay ahead of the game. An example of one such utility company is Eversource, which offers Connected Solutions.

The program rewards users for using less energy during peak demand periods. As part of these adjustments, Eversource will decrease the energy use of EV chargers during these periods. So, you’ll conserve energy while lowering your carbon footprint even further. Charging your vehicle will take longer, but you can change the charger to its normal setting if necessary. Connected Solutions is available to Eversource electric customers in Massachusetts and Connecticut. It requires a Level II ChargePoint, Enel X (JuiceBoxes), or SolarEdge home charger.

Vehicle-to-Electrical Grid Systems

Tech companies are also developing products that help manage electrical grid loads. This coincides with incentives from utility companies. EV charging systems developed by Enel X help California manage electrical grid loads, helping control rolling blackouts.

The JuiceNet IoT platform is an intelligent charging network. It connects chargers from different locations that dynamically manage charging. JuiceNet actively manages California’s energy consumption and loads on the electrical grid in real time.

Quasar is a smart charger from Wallbox that helps reduce electrical grid loads. In Wallbox’s description, the Quasar transforms electric vehicles into powerful energy sources. Your EV can be charged and discharged bidirectionally, so you can power your home or the electrical grid with it.

Using vehicle-to-grid systems is the innovation needed for long-term EV success. It helps reduce the impact of electric vehicles on the electrical grid while contributing to its well-being. Vehicle-to-grid systems work by siphoning electricity from EVs at peak load times. Then replenish the energy and pay you for what they have used throughout the day.

Companies that offer fast chargers are also doing their part to reduce loads on the electrical grid. Solar and wind power are now being used to charge EVs. The combination of this and battery storage will profoundly impact reducing electrical grid load.

The Future Looks Bright

As far as electric vehicles are concerned, the future looks bright. As the efficiency of the vehicles improves, the efficiency of charging them increases as well. The push for an EV world is gaining momentum, so more innovations are likely to be developed to support the electric grid in the near future. As sales continue to rise, grid overload solutions will become more established, preventing the worry of ever overloading the grid.