Maximizing Decarbonization Benefits of Transportation Electrification in the U.S.

Abstract

Transportation electrification can significantly reduce carbon footprint and accelerate the modernization of aging electric infrastructure. In the U.S., the growing adoption of electric vehicles (EVs) will significantly impact the electrical grid and associated greenhouse gas emissions, but with significant differences between the balancing regions due to the diverse characteristics of their electrical grids. This work assesses the impacts associated with the increasing penetration of EVs in the U.S., considering the characteristics of the grid in the different regions, in order to discuss the needed strategies to maximize the future decarbonization benefits. The assessment considers the variation in generation mix profiles during the day in each region, as well as different charging profiles associated with home, work, and public charging. The results show that more ambitious policies for the increasing share of carbon-free generation in the regions with the highest emissions are needed, emphasizing incentives for the use of work and public charging, and ensuring effective management of the charging flexibility.

Keywords

• electric vehicles
• GHG emissions
• charging profiles
• electrical grid
• charging flexibility