EVs aren't straining the grid. They're helping it.

Congratulations if you clicked through to read, that’s a monumental effort in today’s state of affairs.

The electric vehicle (EV) market is growing at an exponential rate. It's apparent that the growth?triggers a division of the U.S. population. Almost daily we hear how EVs are "bad for the grid" and short sighted arguments that are sometimes flabbergasting (seriously, you can pull up the most recent EV-related article on your Facebook and find someone citing the long-debunked "long-tailpipe" myth).

To hit on the most recent news, it's no secret that California is experiencing an unprecedented heatwave (like most of the US at some point this year). You may have seen the requests not to charge, use A/C, etc.?

This brought out, perhaps, the loudest roar of applause from the anti-EV crowd.? "See! EVs are straining the grid."

This couldn't be further from the truth.

The fact is, electric vehicles are doing the opposite of straining the grid -- they're saving it.

Don’t believe it? Take California for example. California had 563,070 light-duty EV registrations as of December 31st, 2021 per the Alternative Fuels Data Center. That is less than 1% of the state's total electricity demand.

Need more information? Gladly:

EVs charge at off-peak hours -- Reducing Peak Demand

One of the biggest concerns about EVs is that they will strain the grid by causing an increase in peak demand.?

Peak demand is the highest point of power consumption in a given day and typically occurs in the early evening when people are getting home from work and turning on their lights and appliances.?

However, data from PJM Interconnection—the largest power grid operator in the United States—shows that EV charging is actually flattening peak demand. This is because people are charging their cars during off-peak hours when there is excess capacity on the grid.

By charging during off-peak hours, EV owners are helping to reduce stress on the system and lower overall costs for everyone.?

Providing Grid Services

This one should cater to the American-built fans...The Ford F-150 lightning has bi-directional capabilities, meaning that it can charge from the grid when rates are low and provide power back to the grid when needed. This is especially helpful during times of high demand when the grid needs all the help it can get.?

(As an aside, a recent study found that bi-directional EV charging could save consumers up to $1,000 per year and reduce carbon emissions by as much as 30%.)

EVs' grid services help stabilize the electrical system. When connected to the grid, EVs can store energy when there is excess capacity and release it back into the system when there is high demand.?

This helps to even out fluctuations on the grid and make it more stable. EVs have the ability to double as virtual power plants, which are groups of distributed energy resources that work together to provide power to the grid.

Virtual power plants can provide essential services like frequency regulation and load following, which helps to keep the grid running smoothly.?

EVs are often seen as a strain on the electrical grid, but recent data shows that they are actually helping to save it. This is because EVs are reducing peak demand and providing essential services that keep the grid running smoothly. As more and more people switch to EVs, we will see even more benefits for both EV owners and the electrical system as a whole.

Time to quit beating a dead horse.