Guidehouse Insights Report Shows Evolving EV Market and Charging Infrastructure Are Expected to Greatly Impact Utility Load Shapes

As the market continues to evolve, utilities should consider time-of-use rates, vehicle-to-grid pilots, and increased stakeholder collaboration

BOULDER, Colo.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--A new report from Guidehouse Insights explores the maturing EV and charging markets, along with EV grid impacts and potential utility benefits.

Electricity demand in the US and European Union has been flat or down for several years, threatening the traditional business utility model of greater demand driving higher revenue. However, projected growth in EV adoption and the electricity that EVs use represent a dramatic increase in the amount of power that utilities will likely sell to consumers, yet, intermittent charge times and geographic clustering could exacerbate peak demand issues and threaten transformers. Click to tweet: According to a new report from @WeAreGHInsights, the evolving EV market, charging infrastructure, and charge times are expected to have a significant impact on utility load shapes.

“As utilities determine investment strategies and how to incorporate a step-change in demand, they will need to consider a range of strategies including price signals and vehicle-to-grid integration,” says Scott Shepard, senior research analyst with Guidehouse Insights. “These tools can help utilities and regulators nudge EV charging behavior to minimize disruptive grid impacts, lower consumer costs, and reduce carbon emissions.”

To position for success as the EV market evolves, Guidehouse Insights recommends utilities and regulators consider shifting electricity customers to time-of-use (TOU) rates. Utilities should work with fleets and firms to foster workplace charging, partner with charging companies to run vehicle-to-grid pilots, and collaborate with automakers to reduce friction for smart charging.

The report, Optimizing EV Load Profiles to Benefit the Grid, explores the maturing EV and charging markets, the move from EV grid impacts from theoretical to practical, and potential utility benefits, including demand response, energy storage, and managed charging. The report also explores this question: how are EVs and renewables exacerbating load shape peaks and troughs? Recommendations for utilities and other stakeholders are provided along with instruments in utility and regulator toolbelts that could help shift EV load. An executive summary of the report is available for free download on the Guidehouse Insights website.

About Guidehouse Insights

Guidehouse Insights, the dedicated market intelligence arm of Guidehouse, provides research, data, and benchmarking services for today’s rapidly changing and highly regulated industries. Our insights are built on in-depth analysis of global clean technology markets. The team’s research methodology combines supply-side industry analysis, end-user primary research, and demand assessment, paired with a deep examination of technology trends, to provide a comprehensive view of emerging resilient infrastructure systems. Additional information about Guidehouse Insights can be found at www.guidehouseinsights.com.

About Guidehouse

Guidehouse is a leading global provider of consulting services to the public and commercial markets with broad capabilities in management, technology, and risk consulting. We help clients address their toughest challenges with a focus on markets and clients facing transformational change, technology-driven innovation and significant regulatory pressure. Across a range of advisory, consulting, outsourcing, and technology/analytics services, we help clients create scalable, innovative solutions that prepare them for future growth and success. Headquartered in Washington DC, the company has more than 7,000 professionals in more than 50 locations. Guidehouse is led by seasoned professionals with proven and diverse expertise in traditional and emerging technologies, markets and agenda-setting issues driving national and global economies. For more information, please visit: www.guidehouse.com.

* The information contained in this press release concerning the report, Optimizing EV Load Profiles to Benefit the Grid, is a summary and reflects the current expectations of Guidehouse Insights based on market data and trend analysis. Market predictions and expectations are inherently uncertain and actual results may differ materially from those contained in this press release or the report. Please refer to the full report for a complete understanding of the assumptions underlying the report’s conclusions and the methodologies used to create the report. Neither Guidehouse Insights nor Guidehouse undertakes any obligation to update any of the information contained in this press release or the report.