Every EV charger install feels like a band-aid on grid problems

We're adding load without fixing the infrastructure. It's gonna bite us later, lmao.

4 comments

4 Comments

ninar681mo agoMost Upvoted

Last year, our local utility reported a 30% jump in evening demand from EV charging. I mean, night rates help, but if everyone switches, we'll just have a new peak. Maybe it's just me, but nobody talks about how old coal plants are being kept online to handle this extra load. That kinda defeats the green point of EVs, right? We need to fix the wires and plants first, or it's all for nothing.

jana5091mo ago

Switched to time of use rates to charge at night, saved a ton and helps the grid handle extra load.

wendyd261mo ago

Totally agree, switching to time of use rates slashed my electric bill big time. Charging at night is so cheap now, it's like a secret hack. @ninar68 makes a good point about grid updates being needed, but this helps buy time while they work on it. My neighbor did the same and we both laugh about how much we save. Really hope more utilities push these plans to spread out demand.

sam_cooper24d ago

Read a piece about how Austin had to ask EV owners to stop charging during a heat wave last summer because the grid was so stressed. Time of use rates are a good band-aid, but if we all plug in at 9 PM sharp, it just makes a new problem. The real fix is more solar and batteries so the night charging actually uses clean power, not just the same old plants. Otherwise it's just moving the strain around.