EVs could double as grid assets…if utilities upgrade the system to handle them. (Grist)
Researchers modeled how V2G could play out in the Bay Area between 2030-2050, depending on various grid upgrade scenarios. The cheapest path forward? Proactively upgrading grid infrastructure in anticipation of rising EV load, rather than reacting in phases. Of course, that's based on a simulation set in one bit of the country, and this outcome isn't guaranteed anywhere.
Why it matters: Still, V2G could help smooth intermittency by giving grid operators another dispatchable resource when demand spikes. But that alone can’t offset the charging load if mass EV adoption arrives—we need new transformers and transmission lines to keep the system resilient.