EVs Are On The Way: Are Utilities (Getting) Ready?

No doubt about it: EVs and plug-in hybrids (PHEVs) are coming, and at least some utilities are making sure they can accommodate the added burden the vehicles will bring to their electric grids. San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E) expects to see the first fleet of 1,000 Nissan Leaf EVs start to arrive in San Diego County in December. And while Southern California Edison won't see quite the same initial numbers, it's getting ready, too. The utilities plan to put their EV customers on time-of-use rate plans that will make vehicle charging cheaper at night when demand is lower and to use Smart grid technologies like smart meters to help shape consumer charging behavior. They're also monitoring where EVs are likely to turn up because a cluster of the vehicles in an area could overload nearby transformers. SDG&E Smart Grid project director Lee Kravat, quoted in the North County Times newspaper, said the utility expects to see such clustering and that monitoring will help it determine where transformers may need to be replaced.

Quick Take: As utilities map out infrastructure modifications or upgrades that may be necessary to accommodate EVs and PHEVs, they also need to be sure vehicle owners know what to expect — and that they're on board. We're glad to see that SDG&E is conducting a serious outreach program for prospective EV owners and that Edison offers a Web site to let them know how to ready their homes for their EVs.

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