“The Train Crash Scenario”: California EV Mandates Will Further Stress An Already Exhausted Electric Grid
So apparently the idea of EVs providing a problem-free and pollution-free utopia where everybody lives in total harmony and there are no problems isn’t quite the reality of the situation.
The reality in California, as the Wall Street Journal wrote about this week, is actually that EV charging is putting stress onto an aging grid and forcing the state to think about ways to generate more power.
The state’s plan to end gas powered vehicles by 2035 means that power needs in the state are going to increase. Meanwhile, as California’s grid has already been stressed this year, the state has been asking citizens to be mindful of when they charge their EVs – and even when they use their major appliances.
Which, of course, begs the question: how the hell is the state going to go all electric within 12 years?
First, it’ll need buy-in from its citizens over charging habits. Dan Bowermaster, senior program manager for electric transportation at EPRI, a nonprofit research group, told WSJ: “Are people going to top off every night? Are people going to wait every few days and then charge up all at once? There are a lot of questions about customer behavior.”
Utilities and auto makers are already trying to offer incentives for owners to charge at certain times and using favorable methods, the report says.- READ MORE
Responses