Jerrod KingeryNearly one in five cars sold in 2024 is an electric vehicle (EV), according to data from the U.S. Energy Information Administration, with that share expected to grow to over half by 2035.
But that growth could lead to a major strain on the electric grid, which currently lacks the capacity to handle that many EVs.
That’s why researchers at the Georgia Insititute of Technology have been working on a smart-charging EV system that works to ease stress on the grid.
According to Georgia Tech, this smart EV charger would allow users to customize the charging process while minimizing both cost and impact on the grid.
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“The EV revolution is happening so quickly that electrical utilities will find it difficult and costly to update the grid fast enough to accommodate these vehicles,” says Michael J. Leamy, Woodruff Professor and director of Graduate Studies in the George W. Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering. “We need to buy time for the grid operators so they aren’t overwhelmed when more EVs enter the market.”
Researchers note that power use peaks in the late afternoon and early evening in the southeastern U.S., after the sun has warmed buildings and homes, leading to increased air conditioner use. That also coincides with the time most people come home from work and when EV users plug in their vehicles, which start charging immediately—and often use the most power in the home.
“A bunch of EVs charging during the peak power load can be problematic for utilities, exacerbating electricity demand and overloading the grid,” says Kartik Sastry, a Ph.D. graduate in the School of Electrical and Computer Engineering (ECE) and co-inventor of the technology. “But you don’t need to start charging as soon as you come home. In most cases, there’s ample time overnight to fully charge electric vehicles.”
Georgia Tech says the smart charger uses algorithms to distribute charging over time, allowing the EV to charge at several intervals overnight instead of all at once.
The algorithm plans when the charging will occur, based on grid conditions and the preference of the user. Using an app, the EV owner can control four aspects of charging: charging: cost, carbon-free energy, speed and battery health.
Once the user makes their selections in the app, the algorithm then determines the best way to charge the vehicle while also minimizing impact to the grid.
Researchers are working to partner with an EV charging station company and public school system that has adopted EV buses in order to demonstrate how the technology can automatically reduce the cost of charging their fleet.
They’re also hoping to partner with EV manufacturers to have the tech incorporated into the vehicles themselves, which would allow for users to customize their charging preferences from the dashboard of their EV.
“We anticipate a significant uptick in EV adoption, which will lead to higher demand on the grid,” Sastry says. “To protect the grid and help the EV industry thrive, we must accommodate these EVs in a smart way, and that’s what we hope to achieve.”
