Utilities will undergo more changes in the coming years than they have had in the over a century of serving the public. That change will be driven by the three “Ds,” decentralization, digitization, and decarbonization. With the proliferation of distributed energy resources, such as solar systems, utilities will be challenged with how to integrate millions of tiny sources of power into the massive grid of today. Utilities rapidly have to reform old methods, often involving paper processes with new digital models, such as the Digital Twin. Location plays a huge role in digitization. Esri has pioneered the modeling of utility networks with ArcGIS. According to the Energy Information Administration, the US consumed 36% of its energy in 2021 using petroleum, much of it from gas-powered vehicles. So electric vehicles will be attacking the final D, decarbonization. So let’s focus on the third D.
Getting the Lowdown on EVs
Esri wanted to find out what people were thinking about EVs. So Esri partnered with Zpryme, a leading energy research, event, and media company, to provide some interesting anecdotal evidence to help us and have a little fun along the way.
Esri asked Zpryme to query EV users and utility decision-makers while on an EV road trip. Two Zpryme employees will travel the California coast from San Francisco to San Diego, with stops along the way in Sacramento, Bakersfield, Los Angeles, and Redlands. They will use Esri technology to optimize their charging and tracking progress using Esri ArcGIS Dashboards in real-time. In addition, they will be reporting on their experience dealing with different types of EV charging stations. And will report on any glitches along the way. The California EV EdVenture will take place October 17th through October 21st. Stay tuned next week as we will be posting links to our storymap, allowing you to follow the road trip journey live October 17th!
What are People Saying About EVs?
Zpryme folks will be interviewing people along the way. Interviewees include EV drivers, industry pundits, and utility decision-makers. Some of the questions include the following:
- What vehicle do you drive? What has been your experience with your EV? The good, the bad, and the ugly.
- How have you seen California Executive Order N-79-20 impact the grid, consumers, utilities & infrastructure? (This is the order that eliminates the sale of gas-powered cars by 2035, amongst other provisions)
- Utilities’ role in electrifying?
- How do EVs fit in with your overall electrification strategy? How are they helping you meet net-zero goals?
- What are your biggest challenges right now in supporting EVs in your territory?
- Vehicle to grid (having your EV power your house)? Future grid interactions?
- How can utilities address social equity, affordability, and Inclusion in EVs infrastructure rollout?
- How do you communicate the benefits of new electric mobility projects to community residents?
- What do you believe that other people might think is crazy?
- What does the future look like?
Zpryme will reveal its results at our 2022 Infrastructure Management and GIS Conference, IMGIS, to be held in Palm Springs, California, from October 31 to November 2. Don’t miss this great conference. Also, see the Zpryme presentation at the Electric Utility Keynote session on Monday at 3:00 PM PST.
Why is Esri Interested in EVs?
Utilities, automakers, charger developers, and road builders will all require geographic information system (GIS) technology to help them build out this new transportation infrastructure. Utilities will need to understand better where charging stations will be located to ensure that the grid can handle the new demand. Today, with about 6% of the 275 million light passenger vehicles registered in the US, the demand on the grid has been managed well. Most EV owners charge their vehicles at home. However, charge times at home vary from several to many hours. As the percentage of EVs grow, owners will be demanding faster charge times, comparable to the time they fuel up their gas cars. That demand for faster charging will be met with commercial high-capacity chargers. They will demand substantial power, directly impacting the grid. Utilities need to understand better where they will be located and the impact on the wires, transformers, and even substations. That’s where GIS comes in.
Click here to learn more about how GIS is a critical technology to help utilities in their quest to address the 3 Ds.