It’s a legitimate worry: Will charging hundreds of thousands – and eventually, millions – of EVs overwhelm existing electric grids? A new analysis of real-world data from California brings good news: So far, EVs are not anywhere near crashing the grid. Since 2012, California regulators have required the state’s three investor-owned utilities (Pacific Gas and… Read more »
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New report: EVs promise a more resilient grid and a more democratic energy system
We read a lot about the performance and environmental advantages of EVs, but there’s another benefit of electrification that’s less often discussed: increasing grid resilience and “energy democracy.” The advantages of a more distributed electrical grid are especially relevant in light of the massive power outages caused by the recent hurricanes. A new report from… Read more »
AeroVironment and eMotorWerks team up to offer new charging features
Charging station manufacturer AeroVironment (NASDAQ: AVAV) is teaming up with eMotorWerks, a provider of cloud-connected smart-grid charging solutions. AeroVironment will integrate eMotorWerks’ JuiceNet charging platform into its line of consumer and OEM chargers. JuiceNet-enabled AeroVironment charging solutions will offer new features such as smartphone, web and voice control over charging, real-time and historic energy usage… Read more »
California’s big three utilities submit proposals to increase access to EV infrastructure
January 20 was an important day for transportation electrification in California. That was the deadline for the state’s three major investor-owned utilities (IOUs) to submit applications for major upgrades to electric transportation infrastructure. California’s Senate Bill 350 (2015) requires the IOUs to establish programs that will increase “access to the use of electricity as a… Read more »
Utilities coming off the sidelines in the EV market
By Lisa Jerram, Principal Research Analyst, at Navigant Research It’s been a little over five years since the modern EV market was launched in the US, and growth has been steady – EV sales are expected to approach 200,000 in 2016. EV charging, the partner to the EV market, has grown as well. Today, the… Read more »
Nissan and Eaton introduce home energy storage system with second-life EV batteries
Nissan and Eaton have partnered to introduce a residential energy storage unit that’s designed to enable customers to take advantage of time-of-use pricing, and to provide back-up power. The xStorage system is powered by twelve second-life Nissan EV battery modules, and will feature smartphone connectivity. Nissan Design Europe will contribute design expertise to ensure that… Read more »
Seattle announces new plan to promote EVs
Seattle is expanding its efforts to promote plug-in vehicles with a new plan called Drive Clean Seattle that the city calls “one of the most comprehensive plans in the country to electrify transportation.” The City of Seattle already has some 300 hybrids, 10 PHEVs and 79 LEAFs in its municipal fleet, and it will be… Read more »
Which US cities are the most EV-friendly?
Portland, Oregon is the most plugged-in city in the US, according to researchers at the Indiana University School of Public and Environmental Affairs. In “Plug-in electric vehicle readiness: Rating cities in the United States,” published in Electricity Journal, the researchers ranked 36 cities, including the nation’s 25 largest, in terms of the policies they have… Read more »
Siemens introduces VersiCharge SG, a WiFi-enabled, cloud-based charging station
There’s a new macro trend occurring with electricity rate structures. In an effort by utilities to match their real-time costs with pricing models, new variable rates are being tested and implemented. The problem is that the cost to generate and distribute power is extremely variable, and has a lot to do with what’s happening on… Read more »
South Korean plan turns ordinary 220V outlets into charging stations
Ironically, South Korea, home to some of the world’s leading producers of Li-ion batteries including LG Chem and Samsung, still has a comparatively tiny EV market. Total plug-in sales in 2014 were 850, far below a tenth of 1% of total vehicle sales. Neighboring Japan has around 110,000 plug-in vehicles on the road, compared to around 1,800… Read more »