Rising fuel prices, carbon dioxide emissions, and oil independence are thrusting sales of electric vehicles to record levels. General Motors is going so far as to set a goal of 100% electric vehicle sales by 2035.
As of 2020, transportation represented the largest source of U.S. greenhouse gases, with light-duty vehicles (LDV) representing nearly 59% of emissions within the sector (US EPA, 2021).
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The Biden administration announced recently a national charging network to encourage the adoption for the new emission-free vehicle technology. The goal is for EVs to make up half of all new vehicle sales by 2030. This would require more charging stations across interstates and highways including in rural areas.
The first phase would bring 500,000 EV charging stations that would require overhauling electric infrastructure to handle high voltage transmission and low-voltage distribution systems.
If each of the nation’s 290 million cars were converted to electric vehicles the demand would increase electricity usage by 25% according to a quote in Physics Today by Daniel Bowermaster, at the Electric Power Research Institute.
The rapid adoption of electric vehicles has some people on social media posting warnings that the US electric grid won’t be able to keep pace with energy demand and lead to blackouts.
But experts say the shift will be gradual enough that utility providers will have plenty of time to adapt and the grid will not get overwhelmed. Examples play out with new neighborhoods, hospitals or schools; supply balances these new load demands.
Although EVs will likely require upgrades to parts of the power system, the studies in Energy & Environmental Science show that EV charging during off peak times improves system efficiency and can lower average retail electricity rates for all consumers—benefiting more people than just EV owners.