California Gears Up for Electric Vehicle Revolution
California is charging ahead with the electrification of its vehicle fleet, but significant hurdles must be addressed to make this transition a success.
Tom Fudge, KPBS Science and Technology Reporter
One key area of focus is ensuring there are adequate charging facilities statewide. At UC San Diego, a large public charging network demonstrates the growing demand.
Pre-med student Isaiah Cabebe, who drives a hybrid, noted the importance of these charging stations for students and residents, particularly those in apartments without home charging capabilities.
Expanding Charging Infrastructure
UC San Diego boasts one of the world’s largest public charging networks with over 500 chargers, and Professor David Victor anticipates further expansion. He projects a threefold increase in charging infrastructure to meet the state’s projected growth in electric vehicle adoption. If the state’s emission reduction goals are met, nearly all new cars sold in 2035 will be EVs, necessitating a significantly larger charging network.
Power Grid Challenges
The transition to EVs also poses challenges for California’s power grid. Transportation is the largest source of carbon emissions nationally, and light-duty vehicles account for a substantial portion of those emissions.
While electric vehicles themselves don’t produce emissions, their charging patterns directly affect grid demand.
The California Energy Commission estimates that EVs will represent 20% of the state’s total energy demand by 2035.
Optimal Charging Times
Evening charging is currently cheapest, coinciding with low overall power demand. However, most of this off-peak power comes from natural gas plants, as renewable sources are less productive at night, and the charging is not carbon-free.
Workplace charging during daylight hours emerges as an attractive solution, as it aligns with peak solar energy production, offering a cleaner and more efficient option.
Future Trends in Vehicle Ownership
Professor Jae Kim predicts a shift towards shared, autonomous vehicle fleets, which could streamline charging and balance electricity supply and demand more effectively.
Key Factors: Costs and Convenience
For the time being, cost and convenience will greatly determine when people charge their electric vehicles, although there is a notable shift occurring. With a shift in habit, the shift aims to get more drivers to select charging during the day.
