The challenge of charging: grid capability and public infrastructure
Over the coming decade, managing electric vehicle charging patterns will be key to encourage charging at periods of low electricity demand or high renewables-based electricity generation, says the IEA.²⁹
With 250 million electric vehicles on the road by 2030 in the Sustainable Development Scenario, it estimates the share of electric vehicle charging in the average evening peak demand could rise to as high as 4-10% in the main electric vehicle markets of China, the European Union and United States, assuming unmanaged charging (see figure 7) .
There are several options to reduce electric vehicle charging at peak system demand, thereby diluting the need for upgrades to generation, transmission, and distribution assets. Off-peak charging at night through simple end-user programming and/or night-time tariffs would more than halve the contribution of electric vehicles to peak demand. Controlled charging in response to real-time price signals from utilities could further exploit synergies with variable renewable electricity generation and expand the range of services electric vehicles offer to the grid.
“Just as future transport must be increasingly electrified, future power systems must make maximum use of variable renewable energy sources. Smart charging minimises the load impact from electric vehicles and unlocks the flexibility to use more solar and wind power.”
IRENA, Innovation outlook: Smart charging for electric vehicles
Smart charging and investment opportunities
Smart charging for electric vehicles, as shown in figure 8, holds the key to unleash synergies between clean transport and low-carbon electricity, says IRENA.³⁰ Batteries in cars could be instrumental in integrating high shares of renewables into the power system.
Smart charging is a convenient way of charging your electric vehicle (EV) at times when demand for electricity is lower, or when there is a great amount of renewable energy available on the grid. Charging during these off-peak times not only reduces costs for EV drivers by using cheaper energy rates, but also helps to prevent unwanted intervals of high demand for electricity from the grid.
EV charging can create significant additional electricity demand, which can be met practically and cost-effectively with renewables fed into the grid. Especially in cities, such developments offer a great opportunity to decarbonise transport while also cutting air and noise pollution, reducing fuel import dependence, and adopting new approaches to urban mobility.
Cars, including EVs, typically spend about 95% of their lifetime parked. These idle periods, combined with battery storage capacity, could make EVs an attractive flexibility solution for the power system. Each EV could effectively become a micro grid-connected storage unit with the potential to provide a broad range of services to the system.
Public infrastructure for EV charging
Demand for public charging currently comes mainly from private owners of EVs. If growth of ownership and therefore access to public charging networks is to be encouraged and enabled, investment and planning will be key. An ecosystem of cost-effective and convenient public charging infrastructure is needed, underpinned by great design and detailed planning – all integrated with wider urban mobility and transport planning, and aligned with grid load capabilities.³¹
This will require a multi-stakeholder approach, bringing together local, municipal, regional and city authorities, regulators, technology providers, investors and transport groups. Responsibility must be shared by all players, working together to deliver a cohesive, co-ordinated long-term approach.
Copyright: iStock
The role for businesses
Many organisations and businesses have already installed charge points in staff and customer car parks. Supermarkets, park and ride-style schemes, railway car parks and large retail chains are among those who have recognised both the need and the opportunity.
EV charging could help to increase customer traffic by putting your company on the map – a visible demonstration of your green credentials and aspirations.³² If freely accessible Wi-Fi is now present in most public places in Europe, EV charging could also become near ubiquitous in the coming years. Customers will expect their favourite shops, restaurants and hotels to provide this – and if they don’t, they will switch providers. After all, why would you go grocery shopping and not charge your EV for free if you could?
Many apps now show EV charging points in a number of European countries, for example at hotel chains or motorway service stations, with the facility to show customer reviews – another way of increasing a business’s competitive edge. Customers with EVs are more likely to stay on site for more time in order to charge, which encourages them to purchase more products or services.
The grid capacity and connection challenge
The current take-up for EVs across Europe means that the experience in each country is different. As a result, issues of grid capacity and infrastructure will remain in the hands of those at local distribution level.
Individual countries may face problems of ageing infrastructure which is less able to cope with EV load and fluctuations in demand. Grids that are already constrained will require new investment that will create the right conditions for accommodating a new EV world.
“While there may be some initial challenges to the distribution level of a grid, we think EVs will in the long term provide a benefit to a country’s grid, helping to manage peaks and flows and maintain stability. Obviously, the need for upgrades will differ, country to country and region by region.
With a proper energy management and storage system that makes use of any spare capacity we expect that most country’s grid infrastructure will be able to keep up with the current take up of EVs.”
Andreas Reischl, Head of Product Management Electric, BayWa r.e. Solar Systems GmbH
As EV take-up grows, governments and energy companies will need to pay close heed to issues of grid load and explore potential for different tariffs, depending on when vehicles are charged. In Great Britain, for example, from May 2022, new EV charge points installed at home and in the workplace will be pre-programmed to switch off during peak hours to ease pressure on the National Grid.³³