EVs, EV Charging & Storage

This panel, Recharging the Role of Regulators with Zero-Emission Vehicles, took on the nascent market of public charging stations with regulated and unregulated players. Regulated entities may, or may not, have rates designed for public EV charging.

“To achieve integration and widespread adoption of BESS requires a collaborative and multi-pronged approach. In addition to technological innovation, there needs to be regulatory support, financial investment, and cultivation of a skilled workforce adept in managing these new systems.”

“We’ve not gone down the path of wanting to own and operate or develop our own charging sites. What we’ve wanted to do was let the market take care of that, and instead worked to support the market development.”

“Transportation is the largest source of carbon dioxide emissions. We believe decarbonization is the fundamental driver toward an acceleration of EV adoption, good utility programs, private sector investment, and creative rate design.”

“We have ongoing dialogue with automakers, to understand better how we can assist them in bringing these vehicles to market. Whether that’s working with dealers to help them understand availability of our infrastructure programs, even in the sales process, or understanding what they are going to need, we want to make this as smooth as possible.”

“There are more tools and services offered that rely on artificial intelligence. We are starting to use some of these cool new tools to understand the scale at which adoption is occurring within our service territory, which will be critical for APS to know to meet future demand.”

Conversations with Arizona Public Service’s Kerri Carnes and Tony Perez; Avangrid’s Scott Bochenek and Charles Spence; CMS Energy’s Lauren Snyder and Jeff Myrom; Commonwealth Edison’s Diana Sharpe; Con Edison’s Britt Reichborn-Kjennerud; Duquesne Light’s Brian Guzek; Idaho Power’s Billie McWinn and Patti Best; National Grid’s Melissa Lavinson; NiSource’s Fred Gomos; Portland General Electric’s Larry Bekkedahl; Puget Sound Energy’s Josh Jacobs and Malcolm McCulloch; and Southern Company’s Lincoln Wood and Stephanie Gossman.

“AEIC members throughout North America are responding to these challenges by leveraging government funding and incentives for upgrading the grid to meet the projected future demand for electricity to power EVs and to build out the vehicle charging network. These efforts are also supported by robust consumer education and engagement campaigns.”

“I am asked all the time, 'If we go to all electric vehicles, won’t it break the grid?' The answer is yes, if we do nothing, but it can be the solution to the grid if we do this right.”

“For EVs to become a resource rather than a challenge to grid stability, we urgently need to see coordinated plans for grid expansion and enhancement, as well as digital technologies for two-way communications and pricing between EVs and grids.”