California has passed a law stating that fuel-powered vehicles will not be allowed on the streets by 2035. This is a little surprising because it means the state is doing its best to utilize electric vehicles for their potential to reduce the strain on the country’s power grid.
If you’re wondering how this is possible, this is because electric vehicles have large batteries that can give power back to the grid, which is especially beneficial if everyone in the state has EVs and use them for vehicle-to-grid charging. Let’s explore more details of how EVs could contribute to the power grid in the USA.
There is no doubt that the power grid experiences a lot of strain during peak seasons, such as during hot summers, which is when many locals turn on the air conditioner, consuming a lot of power each day. Unless electric vehicles are more affordable by 2035, it is unlikely that many people in states like Oregon and California will own their own electric cars, meaning the power generation from bidirectional charging may not be sufficient to contribute meaningfully to the power grid.
Tesla has announced they will create new electric vehicles in the next 5 years that are less pricey, making them slightly more accessible to the general public. Instead of countries trying to generate more power, they can use these tactics to reduce power consumption or receive charging back, ensuring that electric vehicles play a significant part in restoring and rescuing the US power grid.
It is estimated that by 2030, there will be more than 200 million EVs, and California will have a sizeable number of these cars, up to 14 million, by the same year.14 million EVs, if utilized, may be able to generate enough electricity to power all homes in California for three days, which is shocking(no pun intended).
The process is simple and involves the use of a bidirectional charger, which reconverts the DC current back to AC, allowing the grid to utilize it for other uses. However, you can expect these chargers to be expensive, but you’ll quickly make money back in the long run, especially when you start getting paid forgiving power out.
If you’re wondering how much power a single electric vehicle can offer, you may be interested to know that Ford’s F-150 can provide enough power to sustain a home for three days, making it a suitable alternative to the global electricity crisis. Nissan and Volkswagen are also going down this route with their latest EV models, offering bidirectional charging capabilities and competing directly with Tesla, which is a good thing because it means the power crisis may be addressed forthrightly.
It may have come as a surprise to you that electric vehicles could play such an important role in addressing the power crisis, making them a worthy investment if they have the same effect as a solar panel, offering power back to the grid for money.
It is highly unlikely that all residents in America will own electric vehicles by2035, but the trend is certainly heading in that direction, especially if cars become more affordable and more laws are passed to ban fuel-powered cars.