As governments set policies to support emission reduction targets and as consumers ditch the gas pump, utilities are literally fueling this transition and becoming critical players in the transportation sector. In addition to the role they play in enabling and supporting the adoption of EVs (e.g. through public charging investments), utilities will first-and-foremost be responsible for accommodating the increasing number of EVs in their territories and the associated impact on their grids.
Nonetheless, the adoption of EVs across a territory is not and will not be homogenous. Utilities must understand this geographic disparity in order to manage the impacts accordingly. If unmanaged, the increase in system peak loads can be significant; triggering large investments within pockets of the transmission and distribution systems, and in some cases, even shifting certain jurisdictions from summer to winter peaking regimes within a few years.
