The EV Charging Port Problem!
Transportation is a huge problem in the fight to cut carbon emissions. To cut emissions by 50% by 2030, this sector will need to be rapidly decarbonised. Electric vehicles are the key element of this plan. With the estimated number of EV's on the road by 2030 expected to reach 35 million, the big question is how many charging stations will this require and what sort of challenges will need to be overcome to deliver on this target.
Costs are not the only impediment here. Local regulatory issues and electric grid upgrades also play an important role. Viewed this way, the EV revolution faces important regulatory and technological challenges which require close collaboration among different levels of governments.
In the U.S., 80% of EV drivers charge their cars at home, typically using either Level 1 or 2 chargers. But as EVs become more popular, especially with individuals not living in single family homes, public charging station networks will need to expand.
A study by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory estimates that 3.4 DCFC, and 40 Level 2 charging ports are needed per 1,000 EVs. Assuming 35 million EVs by 2030, the U.S. would need to build about 50,000 DCFCs and 1.2 million Level 2 ports. This means that 380 EV charging ports will need to be installed each day over the next nine years! In comparison, the U.S. has installed on average about 30 ports a day between 2010 and 2020.
Moving Forward
The challenge of charging EVs is particularly acute for individuals living in apartments and homes without their own parking spaces. But building new public charging stations requires local governments’ approval of siting plans. A framework or a set of best practices could help streamline engagements between local governments and affected parties including owners of office and apartment complexes, malls, and parking lots, as well as EV charging companies.
With the time involved in charging EVs many owners will charge their vehicles in places where they park for a long time. Thus, has stations will lose business. Even repurposing existing gas stations regulatory changes might be required because some states prohibit the resale of electricity.
The answer and uncertainty remains as to how many charging ports is enough and will they be readily available come 2030 as the EV market begins to expand.
