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Going to renewables doesn't change the fact that the physical wires running across the state cannot move enough electricity fast enough to meet everyone's charg
by jedberg 5y ago
Going to renewables doesn't change the fact that the physical wires running across the state cannot move enough electricity fast enough to meet everyone's charging needs. It will take decades to upgrade all the wires in the state.
Generation isn't the problem it's moving it from where it's generated to where it is needed.
- toomuchtodo 5y agoEven without renewables, there is enough generation and transmission capacity today. Cars charge at homes (overnight), offices (during the day), and other locations where they can dwell for hours at a time. These circuits are the same size as a large heat pump or induction stove, and vehicle charging can be orchestrated in the same way Nest thermostats are used to shed HVAC loads in order to sidestep infrastructure constraints (“DER” or distributed energy resources).
- jedberg 5y agoJust last year the grid operator asked people to charge before 5pm because there wasn't enough capacity at night to charge. Also, the state grid operator has said that we can't support electrification of all vehicles today: https://www.latimes.com/business/story/2020-10-01/california-electricity-evs https://www.latimes.com/business/story/2020-10-01/california...
- Ekaros 5y agoOr have we have enough capacity installed to step-down voltages between transport and charging. The whole grid infra is lot more complex than just some wires.
- jedberg 5y ago"Wires" is shorthand for all the stuff in between. :)