EV CHARGERS BEAT RANGE ANXIETY

Electric Vehicle Charging Equipment; Level 1 and Level 2, DC Fast Charging (CHAdeMO), and Wireless EVSE: Market Analysis and Forecasts
John Gartner and Clint Wheelock, 3Q 2011 (Pike Research)

"…It is no longer a question of if the electric vehicle (EV) is making a comeback; it is only a question of how many plug-in electric vehicles (PEVs) that tap into the grid for power will be driving alongside their internal combustion engine (ICE) counterparts…[so] manufacturers of electric vehicle supply equipment (EVSE) are soliciting fleets, retailers, civic leaders, and citizens to invest now in charging equipment…

"By 2013, more than 80 different models of PEVs will be found on roadways across the globe, and at least as many models of charging equipment for residential and commercial customers will be available…By 2017, more than 5.1 million PEVs will be sold globally…During that time, nearly 7.7 million EVSE sales will support those vehicles…"

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"Vehicle charging is likely to have little impact on grid operators’ ability to generate and distribute sufficient power to meet the additional load. In some areas, peak demand could be increased or the peak hours extended later into the evening if customers are not incentivized to charge off-peak. The impact of power delivered through EVSE could shorten the lifespan of some neighborhood distribution equipment…

"…[U]tilities are offering less expensive EV charging rates and time of use (TOU) pricing with power purchased overnight costing a fraction of the peak power price. The benefits of off-peak charging will encourage nearly all equipment purchases to be smart EVSE…Utilities are beginning to invest in information technology (IT)… [and that will grow] after 2013…Trials are currently underway of vehicle to grid (V2G) systems that enable PEVs to respond to a grid signal by decreasing load or…return power from the vehicle to the grid…"