Grid Impacts of Highway Electric Vehicle Charging and the Role for Mitigation via Energy Storage

Highway fast-charging (HFC) stations for electric vehicles (EVs) are necessary to address range anxiety concerns and thus to support economy-wide decarbonization goals. The characteristics of HFC electricity demand – their relative inflexibility, high power requirements, and spatial concentration – have the potential to adversely impact grid operations as HFC infrastructure expands. Here, we use a spatially and temporally resolved grid operations model to study the impacts of scaled-up HFC infrastructure in the context of multiple EV penetration scenarios on the 2033 Texas power system. We find that grid-HFC interactions increase system average operational costs by $0/MWh to $6/MWh, with greater …

Electric Vehicle Transition: EVs Shifting from Regulatory- to Supply Chain-Driven Disruption

In reality, the transition to EVs has taken longer than anticipated. There continues to be a niche group of consumers who are die-hard believers in the need to switch to electric vehicles, and they typically make up the bulk of electric vehicle sales. But the general population continues to have reservations about whether electric vehicles have improved enough in range, charging time, and price to give them a second look. Governments have tried to sweeten the offer by providing price subsidies to lower the cost of electric vehicles but even those are not enough for an average driver in places …

Plug-in Electric Vehicle Cost-Benefit Analysis: Nevada

MJB&A has evaluated the costs and benefits of increased penetration of plug-in electric vehicles (PEV) in the state of Nevada. The study estimated the benefits that would accrue to all electric utility customers in Nevada due to greater utilization of the electric grid during off-peak hours, and increased utility revenues from PEV charging. In addition, the study estimated the annual financial benefits to Nevada drivers from owning PEVs–from fuel and maintenance cost savings compared to owning gasoline vehicles, and the annual financial benefits to owners of public EV charging infrastructure. The study also estimated the societal benefits resulting from reduced …

Accelerating the Transition to Electric School Buses

The vast majority of school buses in the United States run on diesel, a fossil fuel that has been shown to cause numerous health problems, including asthma, bronchitis, and cancer. Diesel exhaust is also a greenhouse gas, which contributes to climate change. However, there is an alternative: zero-emission battery electric school buses.

The technology is here, and electric school buses are ready to roll, but the question remains: how do schools pay for them? While electric buses can save schools money over the lifespan of the bus, the initial price tag of a new electric bus can turn many schools …

Simulator to Quantify and Manage Electric Vehicle Load Impacts on Low-voltage Distribution Grids

This technical notes details the methodology behind the Electric Vehicles on the Grid Simulator. This tool is intended to help individual building energy managers, facility owners, distribution service operators, charging point operators, and fleet operators. This model-based simulator enables users to evaluate the potential electric vehicle load impacts on the low-voltage distribution grid at specific sites and plan for future capacity upgrades. Additionally, the tool can be used to quantify the effects of different vehicle-grid integration technologies to alleviate the peak capacity stress.…

Maximize Clean Transit Investment: Natural Gas Outperforms Electric

This report by NGVAmerica includes a review of recent studies and reports that evaluate natural gas and battery electric transit buses. Much of this report is based on data generated by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory as part of its evaluations of transit bus operations, including Foothill Transit in California, but also included are the findings from a number of other recent reports and studies.

The desire for cleaner air and the urgency of fighting climate change has put additional emphasis on ensuring that transit buses are powered by the cleanest available fuels. Many environmental advocacy and public interest groups …

Electrification Assessment of Public Vehicles in Washington

Washington state is positioned to cost effectively electrify nearly all public vehicle procurements by the year 2035. With near-term policy action and targeted investments in infrastructure, the state can accelerate ongoing efforts to advance electric vehicles and solidify its leadership position in the electric vehicle market in the United States.

The study team, led by Atlas Public Policy, along with the Washington State University Energy Program and the National Renewable Energy Laboratory evaluated the electrification potential for all publicly-owned vehicles in the state of Washington for the Washington Joint Transportation Committee. The goal of this report was to assess the …

Sustainable Drive, Sustainable Supply: Priorities to Improve the Electric Vehicle Battery Supply Chain

The global transition from fossil fuel-powered vehicles to battery electric vehicles (EVs) will require the production of hundreds of millions of batteries. This massive deployment frequently raises questions from the general public and critics alike about the sustainability of the battery supply chain, from mining impacts to vehicle carbon emissions.

To address these questions, CLEE and the Natural Resource Governance Institute (NRGI) are conducting an stakeholder-led research initiative focused on identifying strategies to improve sustainability and governance across the EV battery supply chain. CLEE and NRGI convened leaders from across the mining, battery manufacturing, automaker, and governance observer/advocate sectors, to …

Electric Vehicle Charging for Retailers

The Center for Climate and Energy Solutions (C2ES) has partnered with the Retail Industry Leaders Association, Atlas Public Policy, and David Gardiner and Associates (DGA) to assess the market and current barriers for electric trucks and charging infrastructure within the retail sector. This joint initiative assesses the market landscape, challenges, and opportunities for electric truck and passenger charging infrastructure adoption among retailers and their transportation partners.

In this phase, the project team interviewed utilities, charging station service providers, and non-profits to investigate whom retailers should be engaging as they design, install, and operate fleet and passenger vehicle charging infrastructure at …

Electric Vehicle (EV) Fees – Key Considerations White Paper

Our transportation system is rapidly changing as alternative fuels, automation, connectivity, shared mobility, and other technologies are adopted. Electric vehicles (EVs) are attracting significant attention from policymakers and others as a critical technology for decarbonizing the transportation sector. However, they are also spurring consideration of emerging challenges for decision makers at both the federal and state levels, particularly around transportation infrastructure funding, already under decline in many jurisdictions. A valid question of how best to fund future transportation infrastructure investments, historically funded in many states substantially by taxes paid on gasoline and diesel, is now part of an active debate.…