Electric Vehicles - having less impact on grid than expected

In a study of vehicle charging in a neighborhood with one of the highest residential concentrations of electric cars in the country, researchers found that owners are charging their EVs much less during hot summer afternoons than most behavioral models predicted.

"EV drivers are distributing when they charge much more than was assumed in models," said Brewster McCracken, CEO of Pecan Street. "This could have a pretty dramatic impact on what the projections are for how many EVs a utility could manage in a particular area."

According to representatives at Pacific Gas and Electric Co., which serves large EV populations, a grid service check is conducted every time a customer purchases an EV to ensure there's enough power to charge it. Out of the 10,000 checks, only 12 local grids have had to be upgraded.

[Midwest Energy News]