Many utilities are seeing EV adoption double every 2-3 years, leading to 20+% market penetration by 2030. Utilities need an EV managed charging solution that optimizes for electric distribution constraints.

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The EV Distribution Grid Challenge

Electric vehicle adoption is accelerating across the United States due to consumer demand, public policy, and industry commitments to electrification, leading to more makes and models of battery electric vehicles (BEVs) and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs). Some estimates indicate that 80% of EV drivers in 2030 are people who don’t own EVs today. While decarbonizing transportation is undoubtedly a positive for the environment, it presents a challenge for the existing electric grid - specifically the distribution system - which was not built to accommodate widespread EV charging. 

EV charging introduces new electric loads that differ from traditional load shapes, which can result in abnormal spikes in peak electricity demand. Imagine a neighborhood with many EVs – all those Level 2 chargers can easily double or triple the electricity demand of each home! If most of these EVs were to start charging at the same time, local service transformers can be pushed beyond capacity, leading to asset aging or even failure. 

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One Solution: Managed Charging

There are solutions, however. Utilities are exploring ways to manage EV charging strategically. One approach is to encourage off-peak charging through Time-of-Use (TOU) electricity rates. This means charging your car in the middle of the night when demand is lower, or in the middle of the day when solar PV is plentiful, will be cheaper than charging during the late afternoon and early evening.

Another option is for utilities to automate vehicles charging. With advanced software, they can optimize charging based on local grid conditions, minimizing stress on the system during hyper-localized peaks, manage the challenges of widespread EV adoption without expensive new infrastructure. By coordinating charging across neighborhoods, utilities can ensure the grid can handle the increased load without overloading transformers or needing near-term upgrades. Advanced software can help optimize charging times to minimize stress on the system. This smarter approach to managing existing resources is crucial for supporting the rapid growth of EVs while keeping costs down.

Both approaches are valuable, finding the right balance is important.  Focusing solely on bulk system needs can have unintended consequences for local grids. The key is to consider both the big picture and the local details. While managing EV charging for the entire grid is important, avoiding overloading local transformers in individual neighborhoods is crucial. Utilities need to develop plans that optimize charging for both the whole system and specific areas.

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WeaveGrid’s DISCO Solution

That’s where WeaveGrid comes in with our Distribution Integrated Smart Charging  Orchestration (DISCO) product. DISCO shifts EV charging to protect distribution assets, defer infrastructure upgrades, optimize use of renewable generation, and inform grid planning decisions. With DISCO, WeaveGrid provides our utility partners with: 

• Enhanced EV predictability: Reduce asset peak loads, allowing for lower peak persistent power and extended asset longevity.
• Load Balancing: Solve for distribution constraints by reducing EV load peaks within a group of vehicles. 
• Asset Protection: Prolong the life of grid assets like transformers and feeders with integration of base load signals.
• Grid Planning: Understand and plan for impacts to distribution infrastructure from clustered EV adoption.

To learn more about WeaveGrid’s DISCO product, book a demo here. 

You can also read more about our distribution-focused work with Portland General Electric in our co-authored Article in IEEE Power & Energy Magazine here or our work with Salt River Project in an Energy Central article here.