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The impact of Electric Vehicle adoption on residential electricity consumption: Insights from Sweden

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  • Jansson, Evelina

Abstract

This paper studies residential charging behavior of Electric Vehicles (EVs) and its potential implications for electricity distribution grids in Sweden. Using a unique data set of almost 5,000 households living in the municipality of Umeå, Sweden, I estimate how adoption of an EV affects a household’s electricity consumption, and more specifically how the effect varies by type of EV (Battery Electric Vehicles (BEVs) and Plug-In Hybrid Vehicles (PHEVs)), and hour of the day. I find that adoption of a BEV (PHEV) increases an average household’s hourly electricity consumption by 20% (10%). Estimates of EV charging vary substantially by hour of the day, and most charging takes place during evening hours, when grid load is typically high. This implies that residential charging of EVs will further add to peak demand if households are not provided incentives to reallocate charging to off-peak hours. Peak hour pricing or off-peak discounts could be effective strategies to mitigate increased pressure on the grid.

Suggested Citation

  • Jansson, Evelina, 2025. "The impact of Electric Vehicle adoption on residential electricity consumption: Insights from Sweden," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 152(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:eneeco:v:152:y:2025:i:c:s0140988325007844
    DOI: 10.1016/j.eneco.2025.108957
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