Strategies for EV charging resiliency during natural disasters

The challenge

With natural disasters such as hurricanes, snowstorms, and wildfires occurring more frequently and intensely than ever before, utilities are developing strategies for supporting their EV customers during a disaster-caused outage. In fact, some state regulators are requiring utilities to plan for how they’ll assist EV customers if grid-tied charging stations are deenergized.

The solution

The disaster-preparedness plan E Source crafted included the use of mobile and deployable EV charging technologies. The charging capacities of each potential solution varied significantly—from products as small as a suitcase that could ride in a tow truck to flatbed-sized battery arrays that can charge scores of cars. And some offered additional features like built-in solar capacity that allows the unit to self-charge. We then right-sized the potential solutions and identified preferred deployment locations by examining traffic volume and patterns, local penetration of EVs, and EV sales forecasts for the next several years.

The results

E Source experts analyzed several technology options, including mobile, deployable solutions designed to address a variety of outage durations and driver demand.

We also investigated more-permanent solutions, such as deploying a diesel generator to power EV equipment as well as well as islanding a microgrid that, while not mobile, would include local charging stations.

There are several use cases for EV drivers in an emergency and each required a different solution. Ultimately, E Source’s EV charging resilience strategy included a recommendation to deploy several of the battery-based solutions described above as well as diesel generators. We also strongly advised the client to consider islanding a microgrid for a longer-term solution. The client is conducting additional research and will soon begin implementing E Source’s recommendations.