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Title: Electricity rates for electric vehicle direct current fast charging in the United States

Abstract

While several efforts are promoting a widespread and convenient network of direct current fast charging (DCFC) stations to support electric vehicles, there is limited understanding of the magnitude and variability of the cost of electricity for these applications. This information gap may hinder optimal investing and planning for charging station placement and in turn affect electric vehicle adoption and usage. Here, we assess the electricity cost for different scenarios of DCFC station size and use based on over 7500 commercial and industrial electricity rates available for 2017 across the United States. Results show that the cost of electricity for DCFC varies dramatically, ranging from less than 0.10 cents to over 2 dollars per kilowatt-hour, depending on station design and high uncertainty in use. The main driver of cost is low utilization, which results from a combination of few charging events and limited energy recharged during each event. Low utilization leads to significantly higher electricity cost, particularly for rates with demand charges; however, cost decreases rapidly as utilization increases. For high-utilization stations, selecting rates with demand charges can actually reduce electricity costs compared to non-demand-charge rates. Furthermore, significant opportunities for cost savings based on existing rates include preferential charging during off-peakmore » hours and limiting multi-plug station power so that not all plugs can be used simultaneously at maximum power.« less

Authors:
ORCiD logo [1]; ORCiD logo [2]; ORCiD logo [1]
+ Show Author Affiliations
  1. National Renewable Energy Lab. (NREL), Golden, CO (United States)
  2. National Renewable Energy Lab. (NREL), Golden, CO (United States); Univ. of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC (United States)
Publication Date:
Research Org.:
National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), Golden, CO (United States)
Sponsoring Org.:
USDOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE), Vehicle Technologies Office (EE-3V)
OSTI Identifier:
1543251
Alternate Identifier(s):
OSTI ID: 1530456
Report Number(s):
NREL/JA-5400-73761
Journal ID: ISSN 1364-0321
Grant/Contract Number:  
AC36-08GO28308
Resource Type:
Accepted Manuscript
Journal Name:
Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews
Additional Journal Information:
Journal Volume: 113; Journal Issue: C; Journal ID: ISSN 1364-0321
Publisher:
Elsevier
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
33 ADVANCED PROPULSION SYSTEMS; electricity rates; electric vehicles; DC fast charging; demand charges; charging stations

Citation Formats

Muratori, Matteo, Kontou, Eleftheria, and Eichman, Joshua D. Electricity rates for electric vehicle direct current fast charging in the United States. United States: N. p., 2019. Web. doi:10.1016/j.rser.2019.06.042.
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Muratori, Matteo, Kontou, Eleftheria, & Eichman, Joshua D. Electricity rates for electric vehicle direct current fast charging in the United States. United States. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rser.2019.06.042
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Muratori, Matteo, Kontou, Eleftheria, and Eichman, Joshua D. Sat . "Electricity rates for electric vehicle direct current fast charging in the United States". United States. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rser.2019.06.042. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/1543251.
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@article{osti_1543251,
title = {Electricity rates for electric vehicle direct current fast charging in the United States},
author = {Muratori, Matteo and Kontou, Eleftheria and Eichman, Joshua D.},
abstractNote = {While several efforts are promoting a widespread and convenient network of direct current fast charging (DCFC) stations to support electric vehicles, there is limited understanding of the magnitude and variability of the cost of electricity for these applications. This information gap may hinder optimal investing and planning for charging station placement and in turn affect electric vehicle adoption and usage. Here, we assess the electricity cost for different scenarios of DCFC station size and use based on over 7500 commercial and industrial electricity rates available for 2017 across the United States. Results show that the cost of electricity for DCFC varies dramatically, ranging from less than 0.10 cents to over 2 dollars per kilowatt-hour, depending on station design and high uncertainty in use. The main driver of cost is low utilization, which results from a combination of few charging events and limited energy recharged during each event. Low utilization leads to significantly higher electricity cost, particularly for rates with demand charges; however, cost decreases rapidly as utilization increases. For high-utilization stations, selecting rates with demand charges can actually reduce electricity costs compared to non-demand-charge rates. Furthermore, significant opportunities for cost savings based on existing rates include preferential charging during off-peak hours and limiting multi-plug station power so that not all plugs can be used simultaneously at maximum power.},
doi = {10.1016/j.rser.2019.06.042},
journal = {Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews},
number = C,
volume = 113,
place = {United States},
year = {2019},
month = {6}
}
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Journal Article:
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Publisher's Version of Record
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rser.2019.06.042
Copyright Statement
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Citation Metrics:
Cited by: 31 works
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Figures / Tables:

Table 1 Table 1: DCFC applicable rates by demand charge type.
All figures and tables (17 total)
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Works referenced in this record:

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    Works referencing / citing this record:

    Dynamic Pricing for Electric Vehicle Charging—A Literature Review
    journal, September 2019

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      Figures / Tables found in this record:

      Table 1 (p. 7)table
      Figure 1 (p. 8)figure
      Figure 2 (p. 9)figure
      Figure 3 (p. 11)figure
      Figure 4 (p. 12)figure
      Figure 5 (p. 14)figure
      Figure 6 (p. 14)figure
      Figure 7 (p. 16)figure
      Figure 8 (p. 16)figure
      Figure 9 (p. 17)figure
      Table A.1: Part 1 (p. 23)table
      Table A.1: Part 2 (p. 24)table
      Figure B. 1 (p. 26)figure
      Figure B. 2 (p. 26)figure
      Figure B. 3 (p. 26)figure
      Figure B. 4 (p. 27)figure
      Figure B. 5 (p. 27)figure
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