Abi-Samra is a professor in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at the University of California, San Diego. He lives in San Marcos.
The Biden administration has laid out an ambitious plan to ensure that by 2032, two-thirds of new cars and a quarter of new heavy-duty trucks sold in the United States will be fully electric. A California mandate requires 35 percent of new cars sold in California by 2026 to be zero-emissions, rising to 68 percent by 2030 and reaching 100 percent by 2035. As someone who has been involved in the entire chain value of the electrical system, from the generator to the toaster. and everything in between, I want to point out that several technologies will need a boost to facilitate this seamless transition.
I was the principal investigator responsible for finding the cause of several major blackouts that affected millions of people, not only in the United States but also around the world between 1990 and 2010. I have also consulted on many renewable energy and retrofit projects network and have written over 100 publications, including the textbook “Power Grid Resiliency for Adverse Conditions”.
I believe that advances in high-capacity, long-lasting, cost-effective batteries are crucial to improving the range and affordability of electric vehicles. This requires continued research and development in battery chemistry, design and manufacturing processes, with collaboration between industry, academia and government agencies to accelerate the introduction of cutting-edge technologies.
To support the rapid growth of electric vehicles, a robust and extensive charging infrastructure is essential, providing a variety of capacities and speeds, such as Level 1 (nighttime charging), Level 2 (eight-hour charging) and direct current (DC). fast charging (providing power for 100 miles in 15 minutes). Ensuring compatibility with all electric vehicle models and compliance with established standards is crucial for smooth charging experiences. A comprehensive public charging infrastructure is especially vital for people living in multi-dwelling units or without garages, who cannot charge their vehicles at home.
The United States should also have a national master plan and roadmap to make electric vehicle charging infrastructure immune to cyber threats. The patchwork system of state and municipal regulatory bodies with non-standardized regulations and protocols hinders the safety of electric vehicle charging. This plan should include strategies for public-private partnerships, financing, incentives and regulations that promote the deployment of safe electric vehicle charging infrastructure.
Addressing smart grid integration is also critical as electric vehicles emerge as a major source of electricity demand. Utilities must modernize the network to accommodate this load while maintaining reliability and stability. This involves implementing advanced distribution management systems, energy storage solutions and demand response programs to manage the intermittent and fluctuating nature of electric vehicle charging loads. In addition, vehicle-to-grid technology can enable electric vehicles to serve as grid power sources, the equivalent of distributed energy resources, providing essential grid services that help improve grid resiliency.
Prioritizing the integration of renewable energy sources, especially wind and solar, into the grid is vital. The United States has abundant wind resources, but their distribution does not align with population centers. Texas, Iowa, Oklahoma, Kansas and Illinois in the middle of the country, with 16% of the population, produce 57% of the total US wind electricity generation.
But most of the US population lives on the coasts, far from wind power production. Princeton University’s highly regarded Net-Zero America report, released in 2020, indicates that we need to increase the transmission system two to more than five times from its 2020 capacity by 2050, depending on cases considered. My projection is that a 60 percent increase in long-haul transmission capacity is required by 2030, requiring the interconnection of the three independent networks (East, West, and Texas Interconnections) . Streamlining the authorization process for transmission lines that cross state lines is vital to achieving this goal. At the same time, we need to focus on expanding clean energy generation, upgrading the grid and increasing its intelligence.
The development of advanced power electronics, such as high-efficiency converters and inverters (which convert alternating current — AC — to DC and vice versa) is necessary to enable efficient energy transfer between the grid and vehicles. These electronic devices should support various charging configurations, including single-phase systems, used in residential environments, and three-phase AC systems, used in commercial and industrial environments, as well as DC charging. As the industry moves toward higher charging power levels, the development of liquid-cooled cables and connectors for electric vehicle charging is essential to mitigate thermal challenges and ensure safe and reliable charging experiences.
Overcoming these challenges will enable the mass adoption of electric vehicles, stimulate innovation and ensure a more sustainable future for the transport sector. By implementing these changes, we can not only facilitate the Biden administration’s ambitious goal, but also decarbonize the grid and improve its resilience.
The United States produced Thomas Edison and George Westinghouse and invented the grid, a technology now used around the world, so I have no doubt that we can achieve this.
