Agenda |
This comprehensive outlook provides a deep dive into the forces driving the EVCI market, from the stabilizing impact of Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) to the future potential of Wireless Charging in urban and fleet applications. Through analysis of emerging technology trends, market shifts, and influential case studies, attendees will gain a nuanced understanding of the strategic actions required to navigate this complex landscape.
Actionable insights and market intelligence will be shared on navigating policy changes, capitalizing on public-private partnerships, and implementing scalable solutions. Offering a data-driven perspective, this overview sets the stage for the Summit and empowers leaders with the foresight to make data-informed decisions, positioning their organizations at the forefront of the U.S. clean transportation movement.
The rapid growth of electric vehicles is driving a transformation in energy infrastructure, but it comes with significant challenges. As demand for energy surges to power EVs, data centers, AI, and advanced manufacturing, the strain on the grid is intensifying, prompting difficult decisions about resource allocation. Each EV project now requires not only charging stations but a robust energy network, with utilities needing to upgrade infrastructure to accommodate the increased load.
Competing demands for energy raise questions about prioritization, highlighting the need for innovative solutions like demand response programs and energy storage. This session discusses effective strategies for addressing these challenges, supporting expanding EV fleets while ensuring broader energy needs are met. The transportation industry stands at a crossroads, and collaboration among utilities and stakeholders is crucial to building a resilient energy ecosystem that can support the future of e-mobility.
The transformation of the commercial transportation sector from ICE to EVs will be one of the most critical aspects of decarbonization of the transportation sector. This session will focus on the strategic, economic, technical and regulatory aspects of that transformation, as well as challenges and successes of scaling the EV charging infrastructure for this sector in the U.S.
As the electric vehicle (EV) market moves from early adopters to the mainstream, electric utilities will play a crucial role in helping consumers navigate the shift to electric transportation. This session will leverage national consumer research to illustrate how utilities can better educate residential customers about EVs, tackle concerns related to EV charging, promote EV-specific rates and programs, and enhance the overall customer experience with EVs. We will also showcase successful EV programs currently in the field, offering a blueprint for other utilities to follow.
Key Takeaways:
Fleet charging solutions are advancing to meet the needs of heavy-duty EVs, integrating current and future technologies for effective operation. While CCS (Combined Charging System) is the primary standard available now, the upcoming MCS (Megawatt Charging System) promises to redefine high-power charging in the near future. Effective planning is essential for fleet operators. Scalable and upgradeable charging solutions enable growth and adaptation over time. Leveraging CCS for immediate requirements while preparing for MCS ensures flexibility and readiness as industry standards evolve.
The grid edge is rapidly becoming a focal point of transformation within the energy sector, driven by the integration of state-of-the-art smart building technologies, electric vehicles, and distributed energy resources. This transformation is not just redefining the national energy infrastructure but also introducing a paradigm shift towards energy efficiency, advanced storage solutions, and innovative distribution strategies.
This panel session will explore the wide array of opportunities and challenges presented by the strategic deployment of grid edge technologies. We will demonstrate how these technologies not only empower consumers and utility providers with valuable data for better decision-making but also support the adoption of decentralized and distributed control systems for the grid.
An essential aspect of our discussion will focus on the integration of big data and computing algorithms within the grid edge, unlocking advances in data analytics and AI technologies. These capabilities are pivotal for processing the vast amounts of data generated at the grid edge, thereby facilitating accurate system predictions and optimizing energy distribution in real-time. Bringing together experts and leaders from industry, the panel will provide a comprehensive outlook on the practical implementations of grid edge technologies, addressing cybersecurity challenges and envisioning the future of our energy systems - including the evolving role of EV charging networks.
The electrification of school buses is gaining momentum, driven by federal and state funding, but its success ultimately hinges on school districts effectively navigating this complex transition. With limited time and resources, many schools find the shift to electrification to be a significant challenge. Interoperability between buses and chargers adds another layer of complexity for districts, and if not guaranteed could remain a barrier to harnessing the potential of V2G and microgrid technologies. In this session, we will explore the current landscape of school bus charging interoperability and discuss how industry can improve this aspect of electrification to create more connected, efficient fleets.
There has been a growing literature focused on understanding the factors which influence EV adoption by consumers. In this body of work, an understanding of EV adoption follows a diffusion model typical of new product and technology adoption, in which consumer demographics and economic factors play a key role. This presentation takes a deeper look at the dynamics of EV adoption growth, using real-world vehicle registration, demographic, and changing location data within a spatial econometrics framework.
Under this framework, the research yields insights that are relevant to how local social constructs and policies can directly influence EV adoption. Understanding these adoption rates is critical for developing successful plans for EV charging infrastructure deployment.
Key Takeaways:
As climate change intensifies, traditional grids are becoming increasingly unstable, and fleet electrification will only add more strain to an already fragile system. Natural disasters like hurricanes and wildfires, along with high utility costs in places like California, further challenge businesses in finding a cost-effective fleet charging solution. The answer lies in creating local power sources using distributed energy resources (DERs). Microgrids, as sustainable local power plants, provide the only reliable, cost-effective solution for fleet electrification.
Solar energy is essential, but not enough on its own -- battery storage and other components are required to ensure continuous energy availability. While future technologies like hydrogen may emerge, businesses need immediate solutions as EV adoption accelerates.
This session examines how modular, product-based microgrid systems can allow for integration of additional energy sources, ensuring flexibility and scalability. When paired with AI-driven machine learning, such systems are designed to optimize energy distribution in real-time, improving efficiency, reducing costs, and enhancing resilience. Case studies of such microgrid-centric EV charging deployments will be discussed.
The global shift to electric vehicles is booming, with the U.S. aiming for 50% of new vehicle sales to be electric by 2030. This surge demands a massive expansion of EV charging infrastructure, posing challenges to the existing electrical grid. This session will explore innovative "Power-plant-in-a-box" strategies for meeting this challenge, utilizing solar-powered, hydrogen-based fuel cell technology, thereby reducing grid dependence and benefiting power-intensive industries. We will explore hydrogen's crucial role in a decarbonized future, emphasizing Long Duration Energy Storage (LDES) technologies and strategies to cut hydrogen production costs.
According to various studies, petroleum resources for ICE vehicle fuel will last until approximately 2052. Utilizing the US Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) published data on the number of registered vehicles by each state, a profile of vehicles by 2052 was developed using a time series, including the total number of EVs by that date. Based on available fuel economy data published by the US Department of Energy, the average energy consumption per mile (kWh/mile) for each vehicle type was factored into the energy demand calculation for 100% electrification by 2052. This presentation uses the results of these forecasts and calculations to discuss the types of EV charging infrastructure that will be required by 2052 to meet the projected growth.
We will examine EV fleet profiles and projections for the near future, as well as utility plans for meeting EV growth, including additional fast chargers (Level 3) at existing gasoline stations. Additionally, the potential of rooftop solar-based charging systems will be discussed as part of an overall solution strategy.
Accelerating EV adoption poses a pressing question for electrical grid operators from the local distribution level up to transmission networks. Electrification can be viewed as a serious challenge or a paradigm-shifting opportunity for the grid, with the outcome hinging on how effectively EVs can be harnessed as a distributed energy resource.
As various DERMs programs around the world seek to meet this challenge, key questions remain to be answered regarding how much capacity can be reliably harnessed from privately-owned EVs under different conditions. At the same time, territory-specific data and insights on EV adoption, charging patterns, and energy needs are critical to ensure today's planning decisions result in a reliable grid in years to come while balancing investment in physical infrastructure and non-wires alternatives.
This session will discuss strategies for enabling distribution and transmission system operators to track and control EV charging loads in their territories. We will share findings from a deployment in partnership with Hydro Ottawa in Canada's capital demonstrating control of a pool of managed EVs as a demand response resource, and discuss how similar pools of EVs elsewhere in Ontario and North America can deliver value as an energy market resource.