{"id":17167,"date":"2022-07-13T10:00:42","date_gmt":"2022-07-13T08:00:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blog.ptvgroup.com\/?p=17167"},"modified":"2025-06-06T09:49:05","modified_gmt":"2025-06-06T07:49:05","slug":"electric-cars-and-power-grid-can-we-avoid-overload","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blog.ptvgroup.com\/en\/trend-topics\/electric-cars-and-power-grid-can-we-avoid-overload\/","title":{"rendered":"Electric cars and power grid: Can we avoid overload?"},"content":{"rendered":"

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text css=””]Electric vehicles are becoming a common sight on the roads. But like every new technology, the switch to EV\u2019s also raises some questions. In this case, one of the major concerns is: Will charging of electric cars overload the power grid?<\/p>\n

The answer to this question \u2013 as with many other mobility challenges \u2013 depends on planning and technology<\/a>. But first, let us understand what is at stake.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1\/2″][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n

Electric cars and the power grid<\/h2>\n

[\/vc_column_text][vc_single_image image=”17193″ img_size=”500×500″][\/vc_column][vc_column width=”1\/2″][vc_empty_space height=”92px”][vc_column_text]There is little doubt that EV are the future of private mobility<\/a>. By the end of this year, there will be more than 27 million<\/a> electric passenger vehicles on the roads, plus around two million electric buses and commercial vehicles and many more two- and three-wheelers.<\/p>\n

And governments are already planning for it. Take the United States, where President Biden set a goal of building 500,000 new public chargers by 2030. That will bring a significant increase in demand for electricity.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]The technology EVs bring with them promises to be more eco-friendly than the current engines, which rely on fossil fuels. That means fewer polluting emissions from transportation, which today constitute about a quarter of all emissions<\/a>.<\/p>\n

EVs consume only one fourth to one third of energy, compared to vehicles powered by gas. That is because the energy from fossil-fueled engines mostly ends up as heat. In EVs, on the other hand, up to 90% of the energy is used to move the vehicle.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1\/2″][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n

How much power will EVs need?<\/h2>\n

Naturally, charging the batteries of EVs will lead to more electricity consumption. Just how much, is a question that is on the table for every region or country introducing EVs or planning to do so.<\/p>\n

Dr. Matthias Pfriem, an EV expert at PTV Group, explains: \u201cOverall, the transition to electric mobility will not bring the risk that there won\u2019t be enough electric energy to supply the vehicles. But given the fact that our distribution networks have not been designed for that additional load, local bottlenecks may occur\u201d.<\/p>\n

The solution? According to Pfriem, \u201cin some cases load management measures to prevent too much simultaneous load might be sufficient. In other cases, the distribution network needs to be fortified, for example through stronger transformers and substations or even additional cables.\u201d[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][vc_column width=”1\/2″][vc_empty_space height=”78px”][vc_single_image image=”17200″ img_size=”500×500″][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text css=””]But, he adds, technology should play a part in the planning phase. \u201cA transport model<\/a> can help to get an early estimation on where to expect additional load through EV charging in the future and guide the works for potential grid fortification measures\u201d, says Pfriem.<\/p>\n

The sum of all this leads to the conclusion, that there is currently no threat of overloading the grid, even when more EVs hit the roads.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1\/2″][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n

Challenges of EV infrastructure<\/h2>\n

[\/vc_column_text][vc_single_image image=”17207″ img_size=”500×500″][\/vc_column][vc_column width=”1\/2″][vc_empty_space height=”92px”][vc_column_text]A major challenge when planning an EV charging infrastructure, is that the supply should be ahead of the demand. Therefore, at the beginning, there is often no attractive business case. From a business perspective, many charging locations are a bet that the number of EVs there will grow significantly.<\/p>\n

A second challenge may be even bigger. It\u2019s what you need to have to build a good EV charging infrastructure. You will need the following:<\/p>\n