Stress on the Grid: A Potential Downside of Electric Cars

By: Ashley Wicks

Self-driving cars and electric cars come hand in hand, as most if not all self-driving cars will be electric. Many environmentalists praise electric vehicles for eliminating the emissions that come from traditional gas engine vehicles. But could there be a disadvantage of electric cars?

Critics have argued that an increase in electric vehicles could cause a strain on the electric power grid, since more electricity would be required to charge these vehicles. However, this is not the full story. In fact, one report notes that “a Chevrolet Bolt EV that drives 50 miles each day uses less power than an air conditioner uses to cool a three-bedroom home for 3 hours.” As long as electric vehicles are designed with energy efficiency in mind, they will individually use relatively little power. Further, electric vehicles could actually help the grid by providing flexibility if they are used as energy storage units, as shown in a study from Denmark.

As the development of self-driving cars continues to move forward, the spread of electric vehicles is imminent. We must proceed with care and consideration of potential problems, such as stress on the grid, as this happens. If we can slowly ease into this transition and design vehicles that maximize energy efficiency, the shift from gas engines to electric cars will not hurt, and may even help, the grid.