A new report from the Environmental Defense Fund suggests that getting the national electric grid ready now for the oncoming influx of electric vehicles (EV), including heavy-duty trucks and buses, will result in lower costs to ratepayers.
Written by Black & Veatch, the report, “Pro-Active Grid Investment Assessment Medium- and Heavy-Duty Vehicle Transportation Electrification,” explains that by proactively addressing the incoming strain on the electric grid by way of EVs could save from $10-20 million in certain areas. The team created grid buildout scenarios using data provided by CenterPoint Energy Houston and New York-based Con Edison.
“While the landscape and adoption curve of electric trucks will vary by state or region, our report suggests that investing in the grid proactively tends to cost less, even where future charging demands are uncertain,” said Michael Zimmerman, senior attorney, electrification at Environmental Defense Fund, pointing out that the “wait and see” approach is a strategically inadequate choice regarding EV charging infrastructure.
Failing to anticipate the increased strain on the grid due to EVs is risky, according to the findings, which suggest that this can lead to higher costs in the end when compared to overestimating it. Being proactive is not a guarantee of cost savings in every instance, but it does suggest an overall cost-effectiveness, even in scenarios where the adoption of EVs is slow.
“By proactively planning and preparing our grid for the electrification of transportation and buildings, we are lowering the total societal cost of transitioning to a clean energy future, leading to lower greenhouse gas emissions and cleaner air for the communities we serve,” said Britt Reichborn-Kjennerud, director of E-Mobility & Demonstrations at Con Edison.
The report is available for download here.
