According to a policy brief published July 24, 2023, by the Zero Emission Transportation Association (ZETA), many power providers believe electric vehicle (EV) growth could build grid resilience so long as the federal government and states create certainty through regulations and planning.[1] In its policy brief, titled ‘Powering the EV Market: How Electricity Providers are Planning for the Future,’ ZETA found that between 2023 and 2050, utilities will need to add 15-27 terawatt-hours of generation (0.3-0.6% of U.S. current capacity) every year to keep up with EV growth and electrification.

The policy brief examined case studies from seven utilities and electricity providers, examining how they prepare for more EVs on the road. The case studies provide insights into managed charging, demand forecasting, community incentive programs, and fleet electrification. For example, in California, where EV adoption is highest, Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E) expects system demand to increase up to 70% over the next two decades as EV growth increases. The utility developed a forecasting tool to address this projected demand and integrated it into its distribution planning processes. Of the 3 million EVs that the utility expects in its footprint, 2 million will be integrated with the grid by participating in time-of-use rates, managed charging, or vehicle-to-grid bidirectional charging programs.

[1] https://www.zeta2030.org/policy-brief-powering-the-ev-market-how-electricity-providers-are-planning-for-the-future