Impact Assessment of Plug-in Hybrid Vehicles on the U.S. Power Grid

Conference · Thu Sep 30 04:00:00 EDT 2010

OSTI ID:1030890

Kintner-Meyer, Michael CW; Nguyen, Tony B; Jin, Chunlian; Balducci, Patrick J; Secrest, Thomas J

The US electricity grid is a national infrastructure that has the potential to deliver significant amounts of the daily driving energy of the US light duty vehicle (cars, pickups, SUVs, and vans) fleet. This paper discusses a 2030 scenario with 37 million plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) on the road in the US demanding electricity for an average daily driving distance of about 33 miles (53 km). The paper addresses the potential grid impacts of the PHEVs fleet relative to their effects on the production cost of electricity, and the emissions from the electricity sector. The results of this analysis indicate significant regional difference on the cost impacts and the CO2 emissions. Battery charging during the day may have twice the cost impacts than charging during the night. The CO2 emissions impacts are very region-dependent. In predominantly coal regions (Midwest), the new PHEV load may reduce the CO2 emission intensity (ton/MWh), while in others regions with significant clean generation (hydro and renewable energy) the CO2 emission intensity may increase. Discussed will the potential impact of the results with the valuation of carbon emissions.

• Research Organization: Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL), Richland, WA (US)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE
• DOE Contract Number: AC05-76RL01830
• OSTI ID: 1030890
• Report Number(s): PNNL-SA-74948; TD5016010
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

01 COAL, LIGNITE, AND PEAT
25 ENERGY STORAGE
30 DIRECT ENERGY CONVERSION
33 ADVANCED PROPULSION SYSTEMS
AUTOMOBILES
BATTERY CHARGING
CARBON
COAL
ELECTRICITY
FUEL CELLS
HYBRID ELECTRIC-POWERED VEHICLES
PRODUCTION