NYISO (New York Independent System Operator has released Alternate Route: Electrifying the Transportation Sector: Potential Impacts of Plug-In Hybrid Electric Vehicles on New York State’s Electricity System [17 page, 277KB PDF]. From the executive summary:
Plug-in Electric Hybrid Vehicles (PHEVs) represent a new stage in the evolution of hybrid electric vehicles in which the electric “plug” for charging batteries has the potential to supplement the “pump.” Several automobile manufacturers have announced plans to introduce PHEVs. President Barack Obama has called for new programs to support PHEV development and deployment. In New York State, Governor David Paterson has announced the creation of the New York Battery and Energy Storage Technology Consortium (NY BEST). The Consortium, one of the first of its kind in the nation, will focus on the development and manufacturing of advanced and affordable battery technologies for the purpose of advancing the PHEV industry here in New York. General Electric also announced a new initiative for the development of advanced batteries, with manufacturing facilities expected to be built in New York State.
The timing and magnitude of potential electric load from PHEVs will be determined by several key factors. These include consumer acceptance of PHEVs, the advancement of battery storage technologies, and the availability/location of PHEV-charging infrastructure. Two studies, one by Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) and another conducted jointly by the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) and the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) concluded that incremental load for PHEVs in New York would be in the range of 7,000-8,000 gigawatt-hours per year (GWH/yr)by 2030.
PHEV load can also migrate and occur intermittently, as PHEV-charging opportunities (as an electric load) expand beyond the owner’s home and depend on travel schedules. If charging patterns are managed properly, PHEVs with loads in the range predicted by these studies could be served by the existing New York bulk power system. The migratory nature of this load, however, does require further analysis to fully assess the impact of PHEV load on local electric distribution systems.
If the charging pattern of PHEVs is not managed effectively, loads of this size could require significant additional generation capacity. Rate design to encourage off-peak charging, coupled with time-of-use rates, and Smart Grid/Advanced Metering Initiatives, would facilitate favorable charging behavior. Advanced communication protocols between the recharging location and an evolving Smart Grid could also facilitate effective management of charging patterns.
