California recently unveiled a plan to phase out new gas-powered cars and now officials are asking residents to avoid charging their electric vehicles. This is due to not overwhelming the power grid.
According to the National Weather Service the west coast is facing a “prolonged and record heat wave” with temperatures possibly as high as 115 degrees Fahrenheit.
The California Independent System Operator is seeking to bring all available resources online to handle higher electricity demand. The experts even issued “voluntary energy conservation” notices over the Labor Day weekend.
“The top three conservation actions are to set thermostats to 78 degrees or higher, avoid using large appliances and charging electric vehicles, and turn off unnecessary lights,” claims the American Public Power Association.
During a “Flex Alert,” residents are encouraged to reduce energy consumption from 4:00 pm to 9:00 pm. These are the hours in which “demand for electricity remains high and there is less solar energy available.”
The warnings come just days after the California Air Resources Board issued new rules for vehicle production. Now California will be requiring 35% of new vehicles to produce zero emissions by 2026.
This is a standard that will rise to a 68% benchmark by 2030 and a 100% level by 2035. Yet the state’s electric grid will require major upgrades to manage such a rapid transition.
“Today, most people charge their electric cars when they come home in the evening — when electricity demand is typically at its peak,” claims a report by researchers at Cornell University’s College of Engineering. “If left unmanaged, the power demanded from many electric vehicles charging simultaneously in the evening will amplify existing peak loads, potentially outstripping the grid’s current capacity to meet demand.”
