Member Brief: Can Electric Vehicles Offset Solar Losses for Utilities? (May 2016)

Transportation electrification as a new load growth opportunity

Electricity demand in the U.S. peaked in 2007 and has been in decline since. The loss of domestic manufacturing, increasing efficiency of buildings, and growth of customer-owned solar all play a role in this trend. Electric vehicle consumption offers a note of hope for utilities with declining demand for power.

Utilities as a conduit for electric vehicle growth

This brief examines whether the growth in consumption from electric vehicles has the potential to offset the losses in consumption from solar. While not particularly hopeful in the near-term, the long-term opportunities for significant EV load growth are encouraging. Using real-life examples, the brief also explains the role that utilities can play in the EV market – a key to influencing smart EV adoption and program deployment.