EV infrastructure: rush & confusion

Disruptive technologies not only change the landscape but frequently surface whole new questions that existing infrastructure and policies simply were not established to address. Energy is rife with this problem - despite the enormous benefits to be had, we must wade through a confusing morass as part of the birthing process.

Electric vehicles are coming and the utilities and Public Utilities Commission are trying to figure out the implications.

One of the biggest questions is whether to regulate Better Place, Coulomb Technologies and other companies that plan to sell electricity to drivers through a network of battery-charging stations.

California’s three big investor-owned utilities have split over the issue.

“The commission should establish its authority to regulate third-party providers of electricity for electric vehicles,” Christopher Warner, an attorney for Pacific Gas & Electric, wrote in a filing with the utilities commission. “Managing the increased electricity consumption and load attributable to electric vehicles in order to avoid adverse impacts on the safety and reliability of the electric grid may be one of the most difficult management challenges that electric utilities will face.”

Southern California Edison, meanwhile, urged the commission to move cautiously, calibrating any regulation to the specific business models of the companies.

San Diego Gas & Electric said the commission did not have the right to regulate companies like Better Place.

Load and time of use figure prominently in the discussions. And as Nissan and Coulomb Technologies rush to build out a fast charging network the Utility Reform Network is advocating a go-slow approach encouraging only 110 volt chargers. Nissan appears focused on 220 volts but Coulomb's chargers can do either 220 or 110. Lower voltage is fine for long charge periods like office or home chargers and this covers most driving needs but it will significantly constrain the incentive to setup a widespread synchronous charging network.

Better Place probably wants fast chargers too but is more flexible given its asynchronous battery-swap and offline charging model.

Clearly the regulatory approach will have significant impact on the business models.

Rafael @www.climateatbay.net