Smart Grid Observer - Electric Vehicles

Electric Vehicles

AVANGRID Announces Search for EV Fleet Management Solutions
September 2, 2021

AVANGRID, a leading sustainable energy company, this week (Sept 1) launched the EV Fleet Management Challenge in collaboration with Iberdrola and PERSEO, Iberdrola's venture capital fund. AVANGRID and its partners are seeking proposals for an online interactive tool that fleet owners can use to understand the feasibility, costs and benefits of converting to an electric fleet. more

GridPoint Launches Grid-Interactive Electric Vehicle Charging Solution for Small and Mid-Sized Commercial Buildings
September 1, 2021

GridPoint takes a whole building approach to managing customers' peak demand charges by analyzing and managing load across several controllable, grid-interactive assets from a single platform, including HVAC, lighting and now EV chargers. Customers can also enroll EV chargers and other eligible building loads into automated demand response (Auto-DR) programs, which deliver additional savings. more

Sustainability and Environmental Goals Top Customer Priorities in Fleet Electrification Study
August 30, 2021 | NRG Energy and Smart Energy Decisions (SED)

The study interviewed more than 200 organizations regarding their vehicle fleet electrification plans and how decarbonizing transportation supports their sustainable goals. Despite overwhelming interest in adopting all-electric vehicles, more than 50 percent of survey respondents reported some indecision and may plan to switch a small percentage of their fleet within the next five years. more

Level Up: Electric Vehicle Owners with Permanently Installed Level 2 Chargers Reap Benefits from Their Investment
August 24, 2021 | J.D. Powers

Home charging is a significant part of the electric vehicle ownership experience, with 88% of owners who say they charge their vehicle at home "often" or "always." Overall home charging satisfaction is highest among EV owners who install a Level 2 permanently mounted charging station, with a score of 749 (on a 1,000-point scale), according to the inaugural J.D. Power U.S. Electric Vehicle Experience (EVX) Home Charging Study, released this week. more

EDF and Nissan Launch New Commercial V2G Service for EV Fleets
August 23, 2021

The V2G technology developed by DREEV, which is a joint venture between EDF and Nuvve - the global leader in V2G technology - allows for two-way energy flow; both recharging an EV's battery when electricity is at its cheapest, and discharging excess energy to sell back into the grid. more

DOE Awards $60 Million to Accelerate Advancements in Zero-Emissions Vehicles
August 3, 2021

The U.S. Department of Energy recently announced $60 million for 24 research and development projects aimed at reducing carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from passenger cars and light- and heavy-duty trucks. The projects will help decarbonize the transportation sector and enhance the infrastructure needed to support the growing adoption of zero-emission vehicles crucial to reaching the Biden-Harris Administration's ambitious goal of a net-zero emissions economy by 2050. more

Regional Leaders Launch Coalition to Accelerate Adoption of Zero-Emission Vehicles
August 1, 2021

A diverse group of local leaders in San Diego representing public, private and nonprofit organizations recently announced the launch of Accelerate to Zero Emissions (A2Z) - a first-of-its-kind regional collaborative dedicated to curbing air pollution and climate change through clean transportation. The coalition - consisting of 13 entities, including the region's largest cities - aims to make it easier for local residents and businesses to transition to electric vehicles, plug-in hybrids and hydrogen fuel cell vehicles. more

Exelon Joins Electric Highway Coalition, Encourages EV Adoption
July 27, 2021

Exelon this week announced a commitment to join the Electric Highway Coalition, a partnership among 14 U.S. utilities to create a seamless network of rapid electric vehicle charging stations connecting major highway systems, stretching from the Atlantic Coast through the Midwest, South and into the Gulf and Central Plains regions. Exelon's six utility companies - Atlantic City Electric, BGE, ComEd, Delmarva Power, PECO and Pepco - will all join the coalition. more

AMPLY Power Supplies California EV Fleet Customers with 100 Percent Renewable Energy
July 19, 2021

The Charging-as-a-Service innovator now ensures only California-sourced renewable power from wind and solar sources is used by its California fleet customers in order to reduce the effects of climate change through the adoption of clean energy. AMPLY is already managing multiple gigawatt-hours of energy per year for its California customers. more

Nuvve Expands Vehicle-to-Grid Footprint
July 8, 2021

Nuvve Holding Corp., provider of a leading vehicle-to-grid (V2G) platform, announced this week that it has been selected as the energy technology provider that will enable school districts and utilities in San Diego, Calif. and Durango, Colo. to accelerate the electrification of their school buses. Nuvve's V2G technology is seen as creating value for the customers of these deployments by lowering the total cost of ownership of electric school buses (ESBs) to be equal to or less than that of diesel school buses. more

EVgo Completes Business Combination with Climate Change Crisis Real Impact I Acquisition Corporation
July 6, 2021

With more than 800 fast charging locations, EVgo's owned and operated charging network serves over 65 metropolitan areas across 34 states and more than 250,000 customers. EVgo Inc. will use the proceeds from this transaction to fuel its growth strategy, including the buildout of its charging infrastructure network, while enhancing its position as the market leader in the transition to clean mobility. more

Enel X Collaborates With Biogen to Electrify Take-Home Vehicle Fleet in North America
June 30, 2021

Biogen is committed to transitioning its global fleet of over 1,000 vehicles to EVs by 2025. Enel X is providing Biogen with a turnkey fleet management solution, including JuiceBox smart charging stations and JuiceNet Fleet IoT software to manage the electric fleet through optimized charging times, and remote access control for station monitoring, as well as real-time monitoring and reporting. more

A New York Energy Innovation First: Battery Storage & Vehicle Chargers On One Site
June 28, 2021

This project will be the first in New York City that combines energy storage and electric vehicle charging. Centrica will design, build, own and operate a 5-megawatt/15-megawatt hour battery system and 18 direct-current fast chargers at the site. The storage system, which will be in trailers, will hold 5 million watts, enough to power about 5,000 apartments for four hours during a summer peak. more

U.S. Department of Energy Announces New Vehicle Technologies Funding and Future Partnerships with Battery Industry
June 15, 2021

The U.S. Department of Energy recently announced $200 million in funding over the next five years for electric vehicles, batteries, and connected vehicles projects at DOE national labs and new DOE partnerships to support electric vehicles innovation. "We're focusing on the entire battery supply chain from soup to nuts - from sustainable mining and processing to manufacturing and recycling - which will translate to thousands of new jobs across the country and put more clean-running electric vehicles on the road," said Acting Assistant Secretary Kelly Speakes-Backman. more

Report Shows California Needs 1.2 Million Electric Vehicle Chargers by 2030
June 14, 2021 | California Energy Commission

New analysis from the California Energy Commission (CEC) shows the state will need nearly 1.2 million public and shared chargers by 2030 to meet the fueling demands of the 7.5 million passenger plug-in electric vehicles anticipated to be on California roads. In addition to the 1.2 million chargers for passenger vehicles, the CEC expects 157,000 chargers will be required by 2030 to support 180,000 medium- and heavy-duty electric trucks and buses also anticipated. more

Northvolt Raises $2-75 Billion in Equity to Deploy Further Battery Cell Capacity -- Expands Swedish Gigafactory to 60 Gwh
June 9, 2021

Including the private placement, Northvolt has now raised more than $6.5 billion in equity and debt to enable an expansion plan leading up to and beyond 150 GWh of deployed annual production capacity in Europe by 2030. In addition, Northvolt has to date secured in excess of $27 billion worth of contracts from key customers, including BMW, Fluence, Scania and Volkswagen, to support its plan, which also includes establishing recycling capabilities to enable 50 percent of all its raw material requirements to be sourced from recycled batteries by 2030. more

Duke Energy Files Phase II Electric Transportation Program in N.C.
June 2, 2021

Following six months of stakeholder input, Duke Energy recently filed an additional $56 million proposal of Phase II programs to continue the advancement of transportation electrification in North Carolina. The filing follows the November 2020 N.C. Utilities Commission (NCUC) order approving the company's $25 million Phase I electric transportation pilot program. more

One in Four Consumers Plan to Buy an Electric Car in Next Five Years According to Ofgem Research
May 14, 2021 | Ofgem

Ahead of Ofgem's launch of its COP26 green, fair future' campaign, new research has found that almost one in four (24%) consumers plan to buy an electric vehicle or plug-in hybrid in the next five years. The Climate Change Committee anticipates around 18 million battery and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles will be on the road by the ban on the sale of new internal combustion vehicles being introduced in 2030. Of these, 14.5 million will be battery electric vehicles. more

National Grid Joins Coalition to Increase EV Charging Across U.S.
May 19, 2021

This coalition will support a network of fast charging stations along major highways from the Atlantic Coast, through the Midwest and South and into the Gulf and Plains regions. Other participating utilities in the Coalition include American Electric Power, Dominion Energy, Duke Energy, Entergy Corporation, Eversource, Southern Co., and the Tennessee Valley Authority. more

Eversource Charging Ahead of Schedule to Increase Access to Electric Vehicles
May 13, 2021

In what has quickly become one of the nation's leading and most rapidly executed large-scale electric vehicle charging programs, Eversource has accelerated its 2018 commitment to install EV charging infrastructure at up to 400 locations across Massachusetts. The energy company has enabled 2,700 EV ports since 2018 and is expecting to reach its goal of 3,500 a year ahead of schedule. more

HEROES: Project Aims to Develop an Energy Storage System for Fast Electric Vehicle Charging
May 12, 2021

The objective of HEROES is the development and demonstration of a disruptive hybrid high power/high energy stationary storage system for fast charging of electric vehicles to be used in medium-size charging stations connected to the low voltage grids, without the need to invest in improving the grid power. Ten partners from five different European countries will work together in the HEROS consortium for 36 months. more

Corporate Sustainability Goals Are Here to Stay, But Delivering Tangible Results Remains a Challenge
May 12, 2021 | Black & Veatch

The new report finds that more than 80 percent of companies surveyed with revenues greater than $250 million have set greenhouse gas reduction goals, but 25 percent are unsure how they'll meet them. Also, corporate management and investors are the top stakeholders driving sustainability commitments, far outweighing other influencers such as customers or regulators. more

Post-Pandemic EV Investment Acceleration: UK Businesses Planning £16bn EV Spend
May 10, 2021 | Centrica

UK businesses are set to invest £15.8bn in the electrification of their vehicle fleets over the next year, a 50% uplift on their spending during the previous 12 months, according to new data released this week. The research, commissioned by Centrica Business Solutions, revealed that UK firms spent £10.5bn on electric vehicles and on-site charging points during the year to March 2021 but are now planning £15.8bn of investment in the same area over the next 12 months- a 50% increase year-on-year. more

Electric Vehicle Consumer Guide
May 4, 2021 | EPRI

This free, interactive guide allows consumers to search for battery-electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles by make, model, electric range, and MSRP. The guide offers an FAQ section and useful information on EVs, like advice on where to charge and how long charging may take. It also includes information on tax incentives, vehicle performance, and data on the public and environmental benefits. view guide

DTE Strengthens Pledge to Net Zero Goal by Collaborating with Automakers to Optimize EV Charging
April 29, 2021

During peak energy usage, DTE and the automakers will temporarily pause charging to the EV owner's vehicle; these pauses are called events. EV owners can opt-out of events at any time. Evaluating how participants and vehicles respond to the different event times and lengths will help DTE improve electric service reliability in the future as EV adoption increases across Michigan. more

EV Connect to Help Expand California Charging Infrastructure Under $436M EV Program
April 29, 2021

As the nation's largest light-duty electric vehicle charging program, Charge Ready is designed to deploy 38,000 EV chargers over the next four years to help California achieve its EV and climate goals. The program will focus on bringing charging infrastructure to public parking lots, schools, hospitals, and destination centers. more

PG&E and BMW Group Taking Next Step in Powering Electric Vehicles with Renewable Energy and Supporting Grid Reliability
March 23, 2021

Designed for a larger group of BMW EV drivers -- about 3,000 EV drivers compared to 100 and 400 in phase one and two -- phase three of the pilot will further explore how incentivizing drivers to shift their EV charging times can help meet the needs of the electric grid and use excess renewable energy available during the day. As part of this, PG&E will work with BMW to send signals to participants encouraging them to charge at times that support the grid. more

MPSC Approves Next Phase of DTE Electric's Electric Vehicle Pilot Program
March 22, 2021

DTE launched Charging Forward in May 2019. It was one of three utility electric vehicle pilot programs the MPSC approved to encourage and facilitate EV adoption and test technology innovations, rate designs, customer response, and other factors involved. more

EV Connect Pilots First Vehicle-to-Grid Charging Project in the Midwest
March 17, 2021

EV Connect will provide its electric vehicle charging management solution and 500 kW bi-directional bus-scale superchargers from Rhombus. The extended test case aims to generate rich data on overall battery life, the number of available cycles and an understanding of discharge rates to assist companies in the EV ecosystem in determining how V2G will impact their products and systems. more

Four Midwest Utilities Expand Nation's Largest Interstate Electric Vehicle Charging Collaborative
March 17, 2021

The automotive industry expects EV adoption to grow from 1.5 million to 18.7 million vehicles by 2030. To meet the demand, an estimated 9.6 million public EV charging stations will be needed. Only about 100,000 stations are in service today, which is why Midwest energy companies are joining forces to support cleaner transportation. more

Commercial Operations Commence at the California Mobility Center
March 15, 2021

The California Mobility Center (CMC) is a public-private partnership led by global thought leaders in clean technology innovation including the Sacramento Municipal Utility District (SMUD). The CMC aspires to be the leading global innovation and commercialization center for future mobility, strategically located in Sacramento. more

AES Indiana and Motor Partner to Help Facilitate Electric Car Adoption Through Digital Platform
March 4, 2021

AES Indiana's plan filed with the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission (IURC) this week requests approval of a new electric car charging rate that encourages broader adoption without an immediate need for building additional infrastructure. The plan also requests for any electric car owner to benefit from a one-time charger rebate and recurring annual incentives for ongoing participation in the Motor program. more

AEP, Dominion Energy, Duke Energy, Entergy, Southern Company and TVA Plan to Add Electric Vehicle Fast Chargers to Connect Gulf Coast, Midwest and Atlantic State Destinations
March 3, 2021

The Electric Highway Coalition - made up of American Electric Power, Dominion Energy, Duke Energy, Entergy Corporation, Southern Co., and the Tennessee Valley Authority - announced a plan to enable EV drivers seamless travel across major regions of the country through a network of DC fast chargers for EVs. This represents an unprecedented effort to offer convenient EV charging options across different company territories and allow EV travel without interruption. more

Atlantic City Electric Receives Green Light for New Electric Vehicle Programs
February 18, 2021

The programs will support the development of 1,000 Smart L2 EV charging ports, which can fully charge most EVs in about 3-5 hours, and 100 DCFC ports, which can charge most EVs to 80 percent in 30 minutes or less. Third-party providers will install, own, and maintain the charging stations. Locations will be determined by third-party providers and incentives will be provided on a first-come-first-serve basis. more

Customers Respond To Electric Vehicle Smart Charging, UK Trial Reveals
February 11, 2021

The UK's largest trial of smart charging incentives found the majority of electric vehicle drivers on the trial shifted charging to off-peak, reducing demand on the network at the busiest times. The Shift project led by UK Power Networks is partnering with Kaluza, Octopus Energy and ev.energy on the trial involving more than 1,000 domestic customers. more

New Duke Energy Subsidiary to Help Companies and Cities Transition Commercial Fleets to Electric Vehicles
February 2, 2021

Duke Energy this week announced a major step to help large businesses and municipalities with the planning, financing, acquisition and deployment services to electrify their fleets. The company, eTransEnergy LLC, a new, wholly owned subsidiary, will provide unregulated services to assist school districts, transit services and companies across the country achieve their economic and sustainability goals as they transition to clean energy transportation options. more

Leclanché Introduces New High Energy Battery System for Hybrid and Fully Electric Trucks and Buses
February 2, 2021

"INT-39 Energy is a high energy, safe and efficient lithium-ion battery pack enabling commercial vehicle manufacturers to more easily design and bring to market zero-emission electric vehicles," said Anil Srivastava, CEO, Leclanché. "This plug-and-play modular solution should help drive a new and efficient generation of e-transport vehicles such as e-trucks, municipal service, construction and agricultural applications and e-buses." more

PSE&G Gains Approval to Jump-Start Electric Vehicle Charging in New Jersey
January 28, 2021

The New Jersey Board of Public Utilities recently approved a settlement that will enable PSE&G to develop electric vehicle charging infrastructure in New Jersey. With this approval, the state’s largest utility is expected to invest $166 million over an expected six years and create about 270 direct clean energy jobs while helping to build out the state’s EV charging infrastructure. more

Plug In America Urges the Biden Administration to Make History: Commit That 100% of New Cars and Trucks Will Have a Plug By the End of This Decade
January 22, 2021

This represents a 50% annual growth year over year from 2020 for battery electrics and plug-in hybrids, from a starting point of about 300,000 EVs sold in the U.S. in 2020. This kind of growth is achievable and is already being done in other major car markets. For example, with supportive policies, EV market share in Germany grew to 20.5% in November 2020 from just 3.7% a year earlier. more

AutoGrid Awarded $2.25 Million from ARPA-E for Expanding VPP Co-Optimization and Electric Vehicle Management Capabilities
January 21, 2021

The expanded Flex capabilities include scaling real-time co-optimization up to 100,000 assets, and expanding the platform's features and functionality for EV fleet management. AutoGrid is currently supporting the buildout of the world's largest VPP by asset volume in Japan with local partner ENERES. more

El Paso Electric Files the Transportation Electrification Plan with the NMPRC
January 20, 2021

The overarching goal of this two-year plan is to increase the use of electric vehicles by incentivizing the installation and usage of smart charging infrastructure through rebate and pilot rate programs while, addressing the challenges associated with the lack of awareness of both the technology and benefits of EVs. more

Nottingham Opts For State-Of-The-Art Open-Source Iot Technology in Pilot Project to Optimize Its Electric Vehicle Fleet
January 19, 2021

The new data management solution will control the distribution of power between all system components, including a fleet of electric vehicles (EVs), battery storage and solar power. This enables the city's energy managers to maximize the use of locally produced renewable energy and cut carbon emissions and costs associated with charging EVs. more

Joint Effort To Unlock EV Charging For All in UK
January 13, 2021

The aim is to ensure that everyone has the confidence to switch to EVs, regardless of where they live or what parking space they have. By sharing data and expertise, the local authorities will help UK Power Networks to identify charge point blackspots. The network operator will then hold a competition to incentivise investors to bid at the lowest cost to deliver the priority charge points. more

Racing to Accelerate Electric Vehicle Adoption: Decarbonizing Transportation with Ridehailing
January 7, 2021 | Rocky Mountain Institute (RMI)

The new insight brief from RMI leverages 101 million miles of real-world data from General Motors to show that electric ridehailing vehicles can not only effectively replace ICE ridehailing vehicles, but will also create catalytic opportunities for the electrification of other transportation sectors by overcoming barriers facing consumers and fleets. more

BIRD Energy to invest $7.15 Million in Cooperative Israel-U.S. Clean Energy Projects
December 23, 2020

The U.S. Department of Energy and Israel's Ministry of Energy along with the Israel Innovation Authority have selected eight clean energy projects to receive $7.15 million under the Binational Industrial Research and Development (BIRD) Energy program. The total value of the projects is $17.4 million, which includes $10.25 million in cost share from the companies selected for funding. more

EnergyHub and Enel X Partner to Expand EV Charging as a Grid Resource
December 14, 2020

Through the partnership, utilities can now manage customer-owned Enel X smart EV charging stations through EnergyHub's Mercury DERMS platform, expanding the breadth of EnergyHub's EV charging solution and increasing the EV charging resources available for utilities to manage. Utilities including Baltimore Gas & Electric (BG&E) and Eversource are the first to leverage the partnership and enroll customers with JuiceBox residential smart charging stations, with more to come. more

Li-Cycle Announces Commercial Lithium-ion Battery Recycling Plant Now Operational in Rochester, New York
December 3, 2020

Li-Cycle has reinvented the recycling process by developing and validating patented technologies that enable recoveries of at least 95% of all materials found in lithium-ion batteries through an innovative, zero-waste process. This compares to the industry norm of less than 50% recovery. The company processes all types of lithium-ion batteries regardless of their previous application, chemistry, or state of charge. more

AVANGRID and EV Connect Partner on Advanced Electric Vehicle Data Services
December 3, 2020

Access to EV Connect data services will help AVANGRID accurately forecast EV electricity needs, assess and analyze future impacts on the grid and inform infrastructure planning to support a robust EV charging ecosystem that anticipates EV growth on the road. AVANGRID will also use the EV Connect data to develop models to serve the future daily charging needs for commercial, industrial and home charging segments, while also planning for electrification of its own fleet. more

How Might Electric Vehicles Affect Electric Loads? Expanded Online Tool Provides Quick Answers
November 25, 2020

"EV charging is going to look different across the country, depending on the prevalence of EVs, access to home charging, and the kind of chargers most used," said Eric Wood, small- to medium-size electric utilities and co-ops-an easy way to analyze key factors for developing a flexible energy strategy that can respond to what's happening on the ground." more

Fortum Introduces New Recycling Technology For Lithium Recovery
November 23, 2020

Finnish-based Fortum has patented a breakthrough technology for a new recovery method to reduce the environmental impact of recycling lithium and make it possible for EV car producers and battery manufacturers to make a smoother and more sustainable transition to electrically powered vehicles. more

CPUC Launches New Autonomous Vehicle Programs
November 20, 2020

The recent Decision creates two new deployment programs: the Drivered Autonomous Vehicle Deployment Program and the Driverless Autonomous Vehicle Deployment Program, which allow participants to offer passenger service, shared rides, and accept monetary compensation for rides in autonomous vehicles. more

TVA Board Approves First Steps in Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Initiative
November 16, 2020

"TVA has reduced carbon emission by nearly 60% since 2005 and we have concrete plans to reach 70% by 2030," said Jeff Lyash, TVA president and CEO. "Actively supporting the electrification of transportation multiplies our own carbon reduction efforts and moves the entire region toward greater sustainability and economic opportunity in the future." more

Rural Communities Could Benefit Most from Electric Vehicles
November 16, 2020 | M.J. Bradley & Associates and the Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS)

Residents of rural communities, on average, drive longer distances than their urban counterparts, which means they spend more money on fueling their cars. Switching to an electric vehicle would result in savings ranging from $1,900 to $2,800 every year, according to the study. They also tend to drive larger and older vehicles with lower efficiency. more

Electrify America Surpasses Milestone: More than 500 Electric Vehicle Charging Stations Open to Public
November 11, 2020

Stations are conveniently located along major routes and in metro areas, strategically placed near shopping, banking and dining amenities. Each station has between three and ten individual DC fast chargers to accommodate multiple vehicles charging at one time. The chargers utilize the fastest technology available today - providing speeds of up to 150kW and 350kW - to help reduce the amount of time spent charging. more

AMPLY Power and AECOM Partner to Bolster Bus Electrification for Transit Agencies to Meet Zero-Emission Goals
November 10, 2020

"There's no longer doubt that fleets need, and want to electrify, as evidenced by the increasing legislative mandates across the country," said Simon Lonsdale, AMPLY Power Head of Sales and Strategy.. "Considering these electric buses have a lifespan of 25 years or more, and in 20 short years, California's zero-emission bus goals will be in full effect, forward-looking transit agencies know the time is now to get serious about electrification." more

Overwhelming Number of New Car Sales Will Be Electric Vehicles in Coming Decades - But Gasoline Will Still Rule the Road in Terms of Total Cars in Use
October 20, 2020

IHS Markit projects that electric vehicles (including battery, plug-in hybrid and fuel cell electric) will comprise 60-80% of all new car sales in 2050. That increased market share (from 2.2% of new car sales in 2020) will be driven by greater scale in manufacturing, as well as the continued improvement of batteries. IHS Markit now projects that the average cost of lithium-ion cell cost will fall below $100 per kilowatt hour by 2023. more

CleanSpark Enters EV Charging Market Through GridFabric Platform
October 6, 2020

CleanSpark today announced that it is entering the electric vehicle charging station space through its recently acquired, wholly-owned subsidiary GridFabric - an OpenADR (Automatic Demand Response) communications compliance and certification company. The new initiative will be focused on providing software solutions to aid in load management for EV charging stations and balancing the impact the increased power demand has on the traditional grid. more

Study: Electric Vehicles Can Fight Climate Change, But They're Not a Silver Bullet
October 1, 2020 | University of Toronto

Today there are more than seven million electric vehicles in operation around the world, compared with only about 20,000 a decade ago. It's a massive change - but according to a group of researchers at the University of Toronto's Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering, it won't be nearly enough to address the global climate crisis. read article

California Governor Announces Phase Out of Gasoline Vehicles by 2035
September 24, 2020

Governor Gavin Newsom this week announced that he will aggressively move the state further away from its reliance on climate change-causing fossil fuels while retaining and creating jobs and spurring economic growth - he issued an executive order requiring sales of all new passenger vehicles to be zero-emission by 2035 and additional measures to eliminate harmful emissions from the transportation sector. more

Enel X Enters US Public Transit Electrification Market With Grants to Support Future Electrification of Bus Fleets
September 21, 2020

Enel X will work with Microgrid Labs, provider of EV modeling and optimization software, and the MBTA during the planning and development of a new bus depot to be located in Quincy, Mass. that will be capable of housing a fully electric fleet of 120 buses and charging infrastructure, as part of the MBTA's broader plans to design facilities to serve a zero-emissions e-bus fleet. more

Duke Energy Advances Climate Strategy With Aggressive Pledge to Electrify Vehicle Fleet by 2030
September 10, 2020

Duke Energy's pledge is to convert 100% of its nearly 4,000 light-duty vehicles to electric and 50% of its approximately 6,000 combined fleet of medium-duty, heavy-duty and off-road vehicles to EVs, plug-in hybrids or other zero-carbon alternatives as more of these options become available. more

Enel X Partners with Uber to Support Zero-Emission EV Driving in the U.S.
September 9, 2020

This week, Enel X introduced JuiceEco, a new option for electric vehicle drivers to power their rides with 100% renewable energy in the U.S. Available exclusively through Enel X, JuiceEco provides Green-e certified Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs) to match the consumption of any EV anywhere in the US with carbon-free electricity. more

Central Maine Power Launches Electric Vehicle Charger Pilot
September 8, 2020

Central Maine Power launched a pilot program recently as part of a state effort to understand consumer preferences in funding the installation of Level 2 chargers for electric vehicles (EVs) across Maine. The goal of the program is to determine what incentives are more valued by developers, fleet managers, municipal planners, and others who decide to install chargers. more

Xcel Energy Shoots for 1.5 Million Electric Vehicles in Its Service Areas by 2030
August 13, 2020

Xcel Energy this week announced its vision to drive toward powering 1.5 million electric vehicles in its service areas by 2030. As a result of this vision, EVs would make up 20% of all vehicles on the road in those areas, more than 30 times the number today, helping save customers billions in fuel costs, while significantly cutting carbon emissions from transportation. more

Grid Coordination Opens Road for Electric Vehicle Flexibility
August 6, 2020

Coordinating large numbers of EVs with the power system presents a highly complex challenge that will test the limits of grid integration, but the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) sees opportunity at the intersection of energy systems and transportation. With powerful resources for simulating and evaluating complex systems, several NREL projects are determining the coordination required for fast charging, balancing electrical supply and demand, and efficient use of all energy assets. more

ChargePoint Secures Additional $127 Million in Funding
August 5, 2020

Continued investor commitment to ChargePoint reinforces the tremendous investment potential afforded by electrifying the movement of people and goods. ChargePoint will use the latest funding to expand its commercial and fleet portfolio in North America and Europe and continue to scale policy, marketing and sales efforts. more

DOE Announces $139 Million in Funding for 55 Projects to Advance Innovative Vehicle Technologies
July 20, 2020

Funded through the U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE's) Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE), projects will conduct research in advanced batteries, electrification, and manufacturing in support of DOE's Energy Storage Grand Challenge. Announced by Secretary Brouillette in January 2020, the Energy Storage Grand Challenge is a comprehensive strategy to create and sustain U.S. global leadership in energy storage technology, utilization, and exports. more

Governor Cuomo Announces New York and 14 States and D.C. to Ramp Up Electrification of Buses and Trucks
July 16, 2020

The goal of the MOU is to ensure that 100 percent of all new medium- and heavy-duty vehicle sales be zero emission vehicles by 2050 with an interim target of 30 percent zero-emission vehicle sales in these categories of vehicles by 2030. The announcement supports the State's nation-leading targets to reduce greenhouse gas emissions under the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act. more

EV Connect Partners with Greenlots to Enable Convenient Access to EV Charging Stations Across North America
July 15, 2020

To improve the electric vehicle driver experience, EV Connect and Greenlots, a member of the Shell Group, have announced the completion of the driver roaming integration between the companies' charging networks. Built on a previously announced agreement for inter-network roaming, users of the EV Connect charging smartphone application will be able to locate, initiate sessions, and pay for charging at Greenlots charge stations and vice-versa, later this year. more

SEPA Report Provides Utility Roadmap to EV Infrastructure Success
July 7, 2020

Combining results from industry surveys, six utility case studies, and other stakeholder insights, the report offers a comprehensive set of recommendations and best practices for improving utility EV programs, interconnecting third-party EV infrastructure, and prioritizing the customer experience. The recommendations apply to all utilities, regardless of size, type, location or maturity of EV programs. more

US Utilities Expanding 'Managed Charging' Programs for Electric Vehicles
June 29, 2020

Northeast Group found that on average customers could save 37% more with EV managed charging or TOU rates than with standard electricity tariffs. For EVs to truly become an important DER, utilities will need to work with regulators and automobile and charging equipment vendors to demonstrate these benefits and incentivize these programs. more

Electric Power Sector Investments of $75-125 Billion Needed to Support Projected 20 Million EVs by 2030, According to Brattle Economists
June 25, 2020

"Transportation electrification poses uncertainties for electric utilities, but also creates opportunities to drive accelerated decarbonization, manage grid reliability, improve asset utilization, and become more customer-centric organizations," noted Sanem Sergici, a Brattle Principal and study coauthor. "While this analysis focuses primarily on light-duty vehicles, electrification of commercial fleets and freight trucks will further magnify electrification-related opportunities." more

I-5 Electric Truck Charging Sites Mapped Out by Electric Utilities
June 18, 2020

Electric utilities in three West Coast states have announced the results of a study that could lead to significant reductions of pollution from freight transportation up and down the Pacific Coast and create jobs in an economy hit hard by the novel coronavirus. more

$500B Transportation Bill in House Emphasizes Low- and Zero-Emission Vehicles Infrastructure
June 4, 2020

The legislation prioritizes carbon pollution reduction, investing in public transit and the national rail network, building out fueling infrastructure for low- and zero-emission vehicles, and deploying technology and innovative materials. "The INVEST in America Act is our opportunity to replace the outdated systems of the past with smarter, safer, more resilient infrastructure that fits the economy of the future," says Committee Chair Peter DeFazio (D-OR). more

Blockchain-Based EV Charging & Grid Integration Market to Experience a 78% Compound Annual Growth Rate from 2020-2029
May 28, 2020

"The potential for blockchain technology as a positive force in EV charging and integration, and in mobility and transportation overall, should not be underestimated," says Johnathon de Villier, research analyst with Guidehouse Insights. "Beyond contributing efficiencies to the information management layer of EV charging and integration solutions, blockchain technology can enable owners of EVs to take advantage of new revenue streams in the form of peer-to-peer charging applications and grid services." more

EV Growing Pains Report Reveals That Newer Electric Vehicles Impact Electric Utility Demand at a Higher Rate as Average Vehicle Charging Load Doubles Over Past 5 Years
May 26, 2020

The EV Growing Pains report findings are based on an analysis of data from over 3,900 vehicles across North America, making this one of the largest and most up-to-date EV charging load studies ever conducted. The study included 40 different EV makes and models, 761,096 charging sessions, 2.3 million hours of charging, 8,576 MWh of energy, and 28.9 million miles of driving data. more

Electric Vehicle Sales to Fall 18% in 2020 but Long-term Prospects Remain Undimmed
May 21, 2020

According to BNEF, sales of electric passenger vehicles are forecast to fall 18% in 2020, to 1.7 million worldwide - with the coronavirus crisis interrupting ten successive years of strong growth. However, sales of combustion engine cars are set to drop even faster this year (by 23%), and the long-term electrification of transport is projected to accelerate in the years ahead. more

AMPLY Power Secures $13.2 Million Led by Soros Fund Management and Siemens to Unlock Electric Charging Infrastructure for Commercial Fleets
April 28, 2020

"Time and again, the major hurdle most electric truck and bus pilots face is the charging infrastructure. In fact, charging fleets without incurring hefty utility bills is the key obstacle for most electric fleets to scale towards full deployment," said Iti Jain, VP at Siemens. more

Accedian and New Context Partner to Revolutionize Next Generation V2G & C-V2X Infrastructure
April 28, 2020

Overcoming previous limiting factors such as legacy commercial cloud security models and disaggregated telecom providers, the partnership offers cross-carrier, cross-jurisdiction, and cross-border edge security solutions and transactional forensic attestation at scale. more

SSEN Launches Project to Support the UK's Readiness for Electric Vehicles Through Portable Charging Devices
April 23, 2020

LEVEL is an 18-month project that begins in April 2020, which will identify ways to improve network and charging resilience to meet short-term demand. The project will develop the standard and specification of temporary, portable EV charging devices, including a demonstration of a device in the SSEN license area in the north of Scotland. more

SSEN Publishes Electric Vehicle Strategy
April 1, 2020

EV uptake is growing across the UK, with the number of ultra-low emission vehicles increasing year on year. SSEN has committed to invest in its network infrastructure to support 10 million EVs on GB roads by 2030. With the right actions taken now, SSEN believes the UK could have the most extensive EV charging network in the world by 2025. more

Chasing Lithium Ions on the Move in a Fast-Charging Battery
March 26, 2020

A team of scientists led by the U.S. Department of Energy's Brookhaven National Laboratory and Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory has captured in real time how lithium ions move in lithium titanate (LTO), a fast-charging battery electrode material made of lithium, titanium, and oxygen. Their discovery could provide insights into designing improved battery materials for the rapid charging of electric vehicles and portable consumer electronics. more

Alpiq Provides Storage Solutions Based on Electric Vehicle Batteries
March 4, 2020

In the form of an interconnected storage system, such batteries can make a significant contribution towards increasing energy efficiency and reducing the peak loads of industrial companies as well as enhancing grid stability and the integration of renewable energies. more

Colorado PUC Electric Vehicle Working Group Report
February 24, 2020 | Colorado Public Utilities Commission

"The auto industry will change more in the next 5 years than it has in the last 50," General Motors Chair and CEO Mary Barra wrote in a recent GM annual report. This research document answers questions and informs the Colorado Public Utility Commission and other interested stakeholders on the regulatory issues facing the development of EVs and the associated charging infrastructure in Colorado. view report

E.ON and Volkswagen Group Makes Significant Contribution to Ultra-Fast Charging Infrastructure
February 11, 2020

The stations are installed according to the plug & play principle - simply put them down, connect them and configure them online. The quick charging system can charge two e-cars with up to 150 kilowatts of power at the same time, thus providing an additional range of around 200 kilometers on average in just 15 minutes. more

ChargePoint and NATSO Launch Collaborative to Significantly Expand EV Charging Along U.S. Highways and in Rural Communities
February 7, 2020

Over the next decade, the newly formed National Highway Charging Collaborative will leverage $1 billion in capital to deploy charging at more than 4,000 travel plazas and fuel stops that serve highway travelers and rural communities. The effort is expected to not only enable long distance electric travel along major routes but will also provide vital access to charging in rural communities. more

Clean Transportation: An Economic Assessment of More Inclusive Vehicle Electrification in California
January 28, 2020

"This data shows that an increase in electric vehicles could pay dividends to Californians across the board increasing real income and gross state product by billions of dollars by 2030," said F. Noel Perry, the founder of think tank Next 10 which commissioned the report. "Transitioning to electric vehicles is not just an investment in mitigating climate risk. It's an investment in the economy." more

DOE Announces $133 Million to Accelerate Advanced Vehicle Technologies Research
January 28, 2020

Funded through the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, this funding opportunity supports projects in advanced batteries and electrification in support of the recently announced DOE Energy Storage Grand Challenge. This FY 2020 funding opportunity also supports priorities in advanced engine and fuel technologies including technologies for off-road applications, lightweight materials, new mobility technologies (energy efficient mobility systems), and alternative fuels technology demonstrations. more

Electrify America Invests $1.3 million in SMUD's Energy StorageShares Program
January 17, 2020

The program incentivizes placement of energy storage in grid-stressed locations in Sacramento while providing Electrify America with potential reductions in demand charges for its SMUD service territory-located sites. SMUD plans to site the utility battery in a location where significant load growth is expected over the next five years. more

Electric Car Battery Carbon Footprint Much Lower Than Assumed
January 13, 2020

The greatest part of an electric car's CO₂ footprint comes from the manufacturing of its batteries, the climate impact of which has long been subject to discussion. However, a recent IVL study shows that impact on climate is significantly less than previously thought. more

Vermont Leads in Making EVs Affordable
December 18, 2019

Vermont's electric utilities are letting customers across Vermont know they can now save up to $15,000 when they buy or lease new all electric vehicles (EVs) and plug-in hybrid vehicles (PHEVs) thanks to new Vermont state rebates that can be combined with utility rebates and federal tax credits. more

Full Throttle on Global Vehicle-to-Grid Trials
December 5, 2019

A new website called V2G Hub, launched by a team led by UK Power Networks, has gathered a complete picture of vehicle-to-grid (V2G) projects in one place to help industry collaboration. V2G Hub has identified 65 projects, in 15 countries across four continents, involving thousands of EVs and chargers. The projects range from a plan to make Portuguese island Porto Santo completely fossil fuel-free, to a Japanese project delivering 4,000 charge points. more

Centrica and Citygate Launch Electric Vehicle Technology Partnership
December 4, 2019

"We are moving to a future in which our cars will become an extension of the fabric of our homes and businesses," says Carl Bayliss, Vice President of Mobility Solutions at Centrica. "Most cars are stationary 95% of the time, so it makes sense to use the collective storage capacity as a mini power plant, to power our lives and support the grid. more

Battery Pack Prices Fall as Market Ramps Up With Market Average at $156/kWh in 2019
December 3, 2019

Battery prices, which were above $1,100 per kilowatt-hour in 2010, have fallen 87% in real terms to $156/kWh in 2019. By 2023, average prices will be close to $100/kWh, according to the latest forecast from research company BloombergNEF (BNEF). more

ABB Technology in 40 Fast-Charging Stations Across Sweden for Vattenfall
December 2, 2019

As part of Vattenfall's strategy to make fossil fuel-free living possible in Sweden within a single generation, the company is installing electric vehicle chargers across the country. Vattenfall is using ABB's DC 50kW Terra fast-charging station, which provides a fast charge on the go for the most common battery sizes within 30 to 45 minutes. more

New Study Points to Rapid Growth of Electric Vehicles and Low Carbon Technology in the North of Scotland
November 28, 2019 | Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks (SSEN)

Northern Scotland's roads could see 116 times the number of electric vehicles by 2032, according to a new study by Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks (SSEN). The future electricity scenario analysis, undertaken by Regen, has mapped out the potential impact of meeting the country's climate change commitments and what it means for SSEN's license area north of the central belt, including the Scottish islands. more

Larger Electric Vehicle Parc to Generate Investment Opportunities in the Utility Grid Infrastructure
November 27, 2019

With greater vehicle electrification and the rise of disruptive technologies such as vehicle-to-grid (V2G) and peer-to-peer blockchain trading, utilities are expected to employ smart charging and demand response programs to cope with the growing demand for energy. According to recent analysis by Frost & Sullivan, cumulative electric vehicle sales are set to increase to 34 million in 2025, 121.2 million in 2030, and 636.7 million by 2040, driving the cumulative power demand from 11,612.6 TWh in 2018 to 19,756.8 TWh in 2040. more

Residential EV Time-Varying Rates That Limit System Peaks
November 14, 2019 | SEPA

"EV-specific rate deployment is a relatively new area, but our study has identified a number of important patterns emerging from recent experience," said Ryan Hledik, a Principal of The Brattle Group and co-author of the report. "Utilities can directly influence many of the EV rate deployment elements that correlate to high enrollment levels." more

Argonne Collaborates to Review Current Battery Recycling Processes For Electric Vehicles
November 8, 2019

"Right now the number of EV batteries requiring recycling is relatively modest. However, we can anticipate a dramatic rise in waste lithium-ion batteries as the number of EVs on the road and reaching end-of-life grows," said Gavin Harper, a research fellow at The Faraday Institution and lead author of the review. more

Navigant Research Names Enel X and Nuvve the Leading Electric Mobility Service Providers
October 29, 2019

"Enel X has a wide breadth of VGI capabilities and technology offerings, presence in the major markets, and a lengthy track record in advanced VGI demonstrations," says Scott Shepard, senior research analyst with Navigant Research. "Nuvve, meanwhile, is a standout in bidirectional charging (V2G) demonstration participation that can trace its history back to the original conceptualization of V2G. The company has been upgrading its V2G capabilities with the introduction of a broad range of bidirectional chargers, putting it in position to provide a full turnkey V2G solution." more

SEPA Report Highlights Trillion Dollar EV Opportunity for Prepared and Proactive Utilities
October 28, 2019

"The rapid acceleration in consumer electric vehicle adoption and higher load demand across transit and commercial fleets of medium and heavy-duty electrification will require utilities to focus on developing more flexible distribution grids," said Paul Stith, Director, Strategy & Innovation at Black & Veatch. "This has become increasingly clear as it can take years to design, plan and build the charging infrastructure and supporting grid assets required to serve concentrated EV demand zones." more

Hawaii Accelerates Past 10,000 Electric Vehicles
October 10, 2019

The role EVs play in the future of ground transportation and our state’s ambitious energy goals is widely recognized,” said Greg Gaug, senior vice president of investments and analytics at Ulupono Initiative. “However, EVs still represent less than 1% of all passenger vehicles in the state. more

Potomac Edison to Launch Electric Vehicle Charging Station Pilot Program in Maryland
March 6, 2019
Over the course of the five-year pilot program, Potomac Edison will install more than 50 charging stations, including nine "fast charging" stations at various locations throughout its Maryland service territory. In addition, residential customers of Potomac Edison in Maryland will be eligible for rebates of up to $300 for the installation of EV charging stations at their home. Rebates also will be available for charging stations at multifamily properties. more

eMotorWerks and Platte River Power Authority Partner on Colorado's First Smart Electric Vehicle Charging Study
February 27, 2019
The study, which is open to EV drivers in Estes Park, Fort Collins, Loveland and Longmont in northern Colorado, investigates EV charging patterns to develop future smart charging services at scale. With an initial target of 250 participating EVs, eMotorWerks and Platte River are deploying a demand response-enabled system in the service territory with the aim to reduce electricity costs and boost renewables penetration. more

Shell Agrees To Acquire sonnen
February 20, 2019

The agreement will accelerate the ability of the two companies to offer innovative integrated energy services and electric vehicle charging solutions, and the provision of grid services that are based on sonnen's virtual battery pool. more

Most Utilities Executives Agree Risk of Consumers Going Largely Off-Grid Will Increase Significantly in Next Two Years, According to Research from Accenture
February 6, 2019
Ninety-five percent of utilities executives agree that the risk of electricity consumers going largely off the grid and only using it as occasional backup will increase significantly in the next two years, according to a study from Accenture. However, the study finds that electrification of transport and buildings will bolster electricity demand growth after 2026. more

EVs Create New Value in the Energy Cloud, but Utilities Are Not Guaranteed a Cent
January 30, 2019 | Source: Navigant Research
Traditional energy suppliers should be afraid, as tiles-to-tyres solar PV, stationary storage, and vehicle-to-home services lie outside a monopoly market. Suppliers have little opportunity to influence the development of these services or control who competes in the market. more

NYSEG and RG&E Test Energy Storage Technologies
January 16, 2019
New York State Electric & Gas along with Rochester Gas and Electric, subsidiaries of AVANGRID, Inc., have completed construction and deployed four energy storage pilot projects. These initiatives will test electric distribution system benefits, new technologies, and the capability to store energy, which could create opportunities for cost savings and provide environmental benefits. more

General Motors to Collaborate with EVgo, ChargePoint and Greenlots on EV Charging
January 14, 2019
General Motors will collaborate with EVgo, ChargePoint and Greenlots, three of the nation's leading electric vehicle (EV) charging networks, to enable access to the largest collective electric vehicle charging network in the United States, including more than 31,000 charging ports. GM plans to aggregate dynamic data from each of the EV charging networks so owners of the all-electric Chevrolet Bolt EV can have a more seamless charging experience with their GM vehicles. more

CPUC Approves First-in-State Pilot Program for Drivered Autonomous Vehicle Passenger Service
January 7, 2019
The California Public Utilities Commission recently (12/21) authorized Zoox, Inc. to participate in California's first pilot providing "drivered" autonomous vehicle (AV) passenger service to the public. Passengers can ride in a vehicle that operates autonomously, and Zoox must have a trained test driver present in the driver's seat and ready to take over if needed. Zoox may not charge passengers for any rides in test AVs. more