Electric vehicle adoption can reduce US reliance on fossil fuels, but the technology has its own set of challenges, like charging EVs overloading the electrical grid, leading to increased energy costs.

A new study(Opens in a new window) from MIT argues that the key to avoiding a meltdown will be spreading out demand on the grid(Opens in a new window). After modeling hourly electricity demand in Dallas and New York City, researchers identified ways to do that without asking drivers to alter their routines, and by using tech that’s already available.

The main issue with adding more EVs to the current power system is creating peaks in electrical usage, which may exceed available supply.

Imagine: a whole neighborhood of 9-5 workers get home, plug their vehicles in, turn the lights on in the house, take a shower, watch TV, etc. Now, in addition to to the typical evening power uses, each person is also charging up a large battery—heightening an existing consumption peak.

« The electricity grid may reach generation and distribution limits at certain times, potentially leading to transformer blowouts, electricity shortages, or reliance on expensive peaking plants to maintain supply, » the study says. « This might occur if, for example, peak charging coincides with peak residential electricity demand in the early evening during higher-demand summer months. »

Grid demand across the seasons
(Credit: US Energy Information Administration, US Hourly Electric Grid Monitor)

Reducing grid demand has two components. First, staggering charging times, and setting up automated systems to delay the time vehicles begin charging. For example, drivers can plug in their vehicles after arriving home from work, when many other drivers do, but set the charge to initiate later through a mobile app (and ensure there’s enough charge in the morning).

« Delayed home charging nearly eliminates increases in peak demand, » the study says.

(Credit: SimonSkafar / Getty Images)

The second component is capturing excess electrical generation during the day, particularly by charging at work. Much of the daytime electricity can come from solar or wind power, though the study focuses on solar because the transition to solar power currently outpaces electric vehicle adoption. Not effectively using the power supply means the US would need to build more costly power plants, thus raising energy prices. The net effect will be under-utilized power facilities with high electricity costs that hamper EV adoption.

« Any increase in electricity prices would raise the life-cycle costs of BEVs [battery electric vehicles] compared with conventional vehicles, potentially providing a new barrier to further electrification of the transport sector, » the study says.

Electrical capacity spread out by charging at work and later in the evening at home.
(Credit: MIT, Cell Reports Physical Science, Zachary Needell PhD ’22, postdoc Wei Wei, and Professor Jessika Trancik.)

This research has the potential to inform regulators who are currently deploying $5 billion of federal funding for the creation of a national charging network over the next five years.

Average Americans can pitch in by learning about their state’s plans, many of which are available on Transportation Department websites (like Maryland’s(Opens in a new window)), and commenting on them. Advocating for installing charging stations at work and charging at home instead of relying on energy-intensive public fast chargers can also make a difference.