Will We Soon Be Negotiating Over Who Gets To Charge an EV First?

Dec. 20, 2014
We don’t negotiate with our neighbors over who gets to run their dishwashers or clothes dryers first. We don’t negotiate with them over who gets to turn their lights on, or blow-dry their hair first. But, we may soon be negotiating over who gets to charge an EV first.

We don’t negotiate with our neighbors over who gets to run their dishwashers or clothes dryers first. We don’t negotiate with them over who gets to turn their lights on, or blow-dry their hair first.

But, at some point in the future, we may be negotiating over who gets to charge an EV first.

Here’s why: Charging an EV can really strain a neighborhood distribution system. If a group of neighbors all decide to come home and charge their EVs at once, it can hurt the system.

The answer: Software and incentives that help neighbors decide who gets to charge their EV–and when.

That’s the word from Lin Khoo, senior vice president of Greenlots, which provides software systems that will allow this kind of discussion. Or argument. Or battle.

It’s called “smart charging,” and it looks like this: “The system would tell you not to charge if your neighbor is still charging or if you need to charge urgently, you ask them to turn down their charging,” he said.

Jeff Turner, project engineer at Powertech Labs, says that in order for this to happen, the utility has to offer incentives to motivate EV owners to change their behavior.

Of course, what if the incentives don’t work? What if the EV owners want their cars charged–and now!?

Interesting questions to contemplate. Will we see polite discussions or big battles? In my neighborhood, people argue over who gets to park their car where. What will happen when they can’t even get their car going?

Tell us what you think!

About the Author

Lisa Cohn | Contributing Editor

I focus on the West Coast and Midwest. Email me at [email protected]

I’ve been writing about energy for more than 20 years, and my stories have appeared in EnergyBiz, SNL Financial, Mother Earth News, Natural Home Magazine, Horizon Air Magazine, Oregon Business, Open Spaces, the Portland Tribune, The Oregonian, Renewable Energy World, Windpower Monthly and other publications. I’m also a former stringer for the Platts/McGraw-Hill energy publications. I began my career covering energy and environment for The Cape Cod Times, where Elisa Wood also was a reporter. I’ve received numerous writing awards from national, regional and local organizations, including Pacific Northwest Writers Association, Willamette Writers, Associated Oregon Industries, and the Voice of Youth Advocates. I first became interested in energy as a student at Wesleyan University, Middletown, Connecticut, where I helped design and build a solar house.

Twitter: @LisaECohn

Linkedin: LisaEllenCohn

Facebook: Energy Efficiency Markets

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