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Are electric vehicles getting too big and heavy? Modelling future vehicle journeying demand on a decarbonized US electricity grid

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  • Galvin, Ray

Abstract

In the US a complete transition to electric vehicles (EVs) would increase demand for carbon-free electricity by around 30% if the future fleet has the same average size, weight and horsepower as current EVs. However, these dimensions for today's EVs are substantially lower than for conventional vehicles, so as EVs replace them, EV's average size, weight and horsepower are likely to increase substantially. Further, major automakers are introducing a new class of very large, powerful “super”-EVs of up to 1000 horsepower. These factors will lead to higher demand for carbon-free electricity. This interdisciplinary paper first examines the social pressure for increasing EV size and power. It then uses data from the 255 EVs tested by the US EPA in 2011–2021, to estimate the effect of increased weight and horsepower on EVs' electricity consumption. It finds that each 1% increase in weight leads to an increase in electricity consumption of about 1%. The transition to EVs could therefore increase electricity consumption by 35% or more and compromise the transition to a decarbonized electricity grid. Policymakers need to plan for a larger decarbonised grid, disincentivise production of large, heavy EVs and promote positive social discourse on the value of smaller, lighter vehicles.

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  • Galvin, Ray, 2022. "Are electric vehicles getting too big and heavy? Modelling future vehicle journeying demand on a decarbonized US electricity grid," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 161(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:enepol:v:161:y:2022:i:c:s0301421521006121
    DOI: 10.1016/j.enpol.2021.112746
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    2. Rafael Fernandes Mosquim & Carlos Eduardo Keutenedjian Mady, 2022. "Performance and Efficiency Trade-Offs in Brazilian Passenger Vehicle Fleet," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(15), pages 1-22, July.
    3. Maxwell Woody & Gregory A. Keoleian & Parth Vaishnav, 2023. "Decarbonization potential of electrifying 50% of U.S. light-duty vehicle sales by 2030," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-12, December.
    4. Siobhan Powell & Gustavo Vianna Cezar & Liang Min & Inês M. L. Azevedo & Ram Rajagopal, 2022. "Charging infrastructure access and operation to reduce the grid impacts of deep electric vehicle adoption," Nature Energy, Nature, vol. 7(10), pages 932-945, October.
    5. Shahbazbegian, Vahid & Shafie-khah, Miadreza & Laaksonen, Hannu & Strbac, Goran & Ameli, Hossein, 2023. "Resilience-oriented operation of microgrids in the presence of power-to-hydrogen systems," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 348(C).

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