Record-breaking demand and sales for battery-electric vehicles (BEVs) are being fueled in part by high gas prices and a variety of new models coming to market. However, these vehicles, and their charging networks, have the potential to put a significant strain on the energy grid. Today on Inside Automotive, we’re pleased to welcome back Rusty West, the President and CEO of Market Scan, to give us his perspective on EV charging in his home state of California.
The Market Scan offices are located in Southern California, a region crawling with electric vehicles. However, the area has a lot of low-lying brush that interferes with the power lines. When the Santa Ana winds and other weather events occur, the electric companies will cut the power to prevent sparks and possible wildfires. In fact, West recently received a notification that due to high temperatures, residents should limit their use of electricity, including charging their electric vehicles.
Additionally, West thinks there are not nearly enough EV charging stations to meet the needs of apartment complexes. The effort to install more charging stations has to be higher, but even if there were enough chargers, the grid does not have the guaranteed ability to provide the power. Most major metropolitan areas have grid issues, says West.
So, the questions are, where will the funding for that infrastructure come from and how fast can it get done?
To hear more from Rusty West, watch our entire interview above.
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