Abstract:

Concerns about the environmental and energy security consequences of fossil-fuel reliance have prompted regional energy systems to expand their use of sustainable and zero-carbon energy sources. This is reflected in the growing use of plug-in electric vehicles (PEVs) in transportation. PEVs charged with zero-carbon electricity are important for decarbonizing regional energy systems. Flexible charging of these vehicles aids with grid integration of wind and solar generation but may require drivers to provide information about their travel patterns and allow grid operators to control the charging of their vehicles. Limited acceptance of flexible charging can potentially limit greenhouse gas emissions reductions from electric vehicle deployment. Therefore, here the authors assess how varying the extent of consumer acceptance of flexible charging affects electric vehicle greenhouse gas emissions reductions in a highly decarbonized California grid (>70% zero-carbon), a region with mandated zero-emission vehicle deployment and electricity decarbonization targets. The authors quantify the monetary value of flexible charging based on the reduction in stationary storage required to achieve a given zero-carbon penetration as flexible charging is adopted. Non-monetary incentives may be needed to increase smart charging participation. These results can inform future analyses on the supply and demand for participation in flexible charging programs.