The push to electrify transportation, including the establishment of a robust local, regional, and interstate charging infrastructure, is a vital step in ultimately achieving net-zero emissions within the trans- portation industry in the United States. The Biden Administration has called for the installation of 500,000 new electric vehicle (EV) plugs throughout the U.S. by 2030. This ambitious proposal would increase the nation’s inventory of charging stations approximately five-fold, a considerable boost to the EV industry outlook. According to BloombergNEF, which researches the global energy and transportation markets, passenger EV sales are predicted to reach 8.5 million worldwide by 2025, or approximately 10 percent of all new car sales. By 2040, that figure is projected to reach as much as 54 million, with EVs representing half of all passenger car sales. In the U.S., EVs will make up approximately 7 percent of the market by 2025 and 24 percent by 2030. Key factors that will enhance vehicle pricing and popularity include the decreasing costs of batteries, improvements to the flexibility and reliability of the electric grid, and the growing availability of charging stations. Reducing “RangeAnxiety”: Increasing the EV Charging Network Industry experts vary on the ideal ratio of public chargers to the number of electric vehicles on the road. California currently has an estimated 25-30 EVs per public charging point. The International Energy As - sociation has recommended an ambitious 10-1 ratio for the European Union, while some analysts have settled at a 15-1 or 20-1 ratio as a goal that should satisfy market demand. While most EV charging will continue to occur at home, many munici - palities, commercial businesses and energy providers are now launch- ing programs to install public charging stations near office buildings, shopping centers, civic buildings, restaurants, multi-family housing complexes, and highway travel plazas, often with the support of gov - ernment grants and a goal of meeting net-zero carbon goals. Options for locating charging stations include raw land sites, gas sta- tions, parking lots, and parking garages. Initial steps for a typical EV charging station project may include preliminary site audits, Phase I environmental site assessments, and utility coordination. It is impera - tive to understand existing local power limitations and opportunities early on, including the ability to provide new utility service to a site or upgrade existing service. Engineers can assist clients with identifying Leading the Charge: Engineers Play a Key Role in Developing Electric Vehicle Infrastructure By Dave Revette, PE, and Jessica Robbins, PE
optimal locations, determining the number of charge stalls or posts at each installation, and parking layouts and configurations. The next steps involve electrical engineering design, including utility routing; AC and DC power design; civil/site design; and site regulatory permitting. The permitting step can be complex, potentially involving zoning board approval, planning board approval, site plan review, and building and electrical permits. Local knowledge and experience often prove instrumental in the timely completion of this phase of work. Ideally, engineers work closely with clients and authorities to install the charging stations efficiently while focusing on creating a positive customer experience. Successful locations allow people to charge their cars while shopping, dining, or running errands for at least 30 minutes. Forward-thinking clients, including state and local agencies, utilities, and car manufacturers, are also installing charging stations that can be expanded as demand rises. Maryland’s largest gas and electric utility, Exelon-owned BGE, has installed more than 100 chargers as part of its utility-owned and oper - ated EVsmart public charging network. The growing network, which The City of Baltimore and BGE partnered to develop EV charging stations in a number of publicly owned parking lots. The installation at Ripken Stadium includes eight Level 2 and two DC fast charging stations.
20
csengineermag.com
June 2021
Made with FlippingBook Annual report