Rolling Energy Resources

Let's discuss a challenging issue in the electric vehicle landscape: charging accessibility in multi-dwelling units (MDUs) without incurring significantly higher electricity costs. Consider the purchasing journey of an individual interested in a plug-in vehicle (BEV or PHEV) residing in a suburban low-rise dwelling. While I"ve created a detailed journey map exists for this segment, below are the key points. Can this individual overcome these challenges? If not, how can we address this issue for 30% of the population? Share your thoughts on potential solutions in the comments and provide links to organizations making strides in this area for collaborative learning. 1. Investigate Charging Options (general): •What type of charger will I need? •Are all the plugs the same kind? •Is charging a car more or less expensive than gas? •How fast of a charge to I actually need? Does the equipment come with the car? 2. Investigate Charging Options (property specific): •I pay my own electricity bill (has a meter). Will the EV be on that account? •Can I get a specific parking space to put a charger? •Is there an existing plug in the parking lot already? If so, can I use it? •How long will it take to charge my car if I use that one? Will the landlord charge me extra? •Is the space going to be shared? 3. Engage with HOA, Landlord, Utility: •Who's responsibility is to provide charging? •Does the HOA already have rules around electricity use for common areas? •Does the utility have a program for me? How would I know? •If I approach the property manager, what do I need to tell/ask them? 4. Figure out how to pay for the electricity: •How is electricity in common spaces charged now? •How much electricity will I use in a month? What's a kWh ? •How are other multifamily buildings doing this? •Do regular chargers come with a way to pay? •Can my utility just put in a meter for my EV consumption? 5. (If they get this far) Figure out how to install a Level 2 charger: -Where will I get a 220 charger? Is it compatible with my car and electricity system at the complex? -Will the HOA pay for the charger?  Will the property manager pay for the charger? -Who can install these devices?  - How will I pay the monthly bill?- Are other multi-family complexes putting in EV charging? How did they do it? 6.  Get charger installed: •HOA decides they want to put in a L2 charger •Who do they call first? Electrician? Utility? •Can the utility bill the customer and put in another meter? •Utility says a service upgrade is needed. Uh-oh. I would conclude that an individual would rarely take on this journey successfully. Rolling Energy Resources conducted a DOE funded study on MDU charging last year, which highlighted that public chargers will rarely solve the problem. Onsite solutions are needed, and this sector needs help. #electriccars #evcharging #equity #utilities #tesla #electrification #evs #electricvehicles

Is someone at your utility planning for managing electric vehicle charging, or developing EV load management programs now? https://lnkd.in/gZTDrJFY

"Embracing Disruption" was the theme at #GridFWD 2023 last week, with experts debating what the future of the #electricgrid will be. Managed charging of EVs, time-of-use rates, and re-regulation were vigorously debated. My discussions on creating the right electricity rates and incentives for residential EV customers were most interesting. As we transition from fossil fuels to solar and wind power, the future grid requires a novel approach to rate design. Static rate designs like time-of-use (TOU) rates are no longer sufficient with these dynamic supply changes. We're already witnessing dramatic spikes in EV charging immediately after a peak pricing period ends, and this could strain neighborhood transformers. We must intelligently stagger vehicle charging profiles during lower rate periods. In many regions of the western U.S., #solar growth is leading to abundant power during the midday, creating the need for a "sponge" to soak it up. This sponge, in most cases, is electric transportation charging. Conversely, in other parts of the country, #wind power dominates and produces excess power at night, making it ideal for overnight #charging. Consumer acceptance of #TOU rates takes time and isn't adaptable to rapid changes. Electricity costs fluctuate by the hour, day, and season, from near-zero with renewables to expensive during system constraints. Adapting to hourly rate changes can be challenging for most consumers, but technologies and third-party solutions offer seamless ways to participate while keeping grid costs low. Managed charging, with active load control, is one such method, offering savings while ensuring your vehicle is ready the next day. Different customers will thrive on different rate structures; we shouldn't assume there's one "right" solution. Some will embrace a real time signal with tech assistance, others will like a daily routine like TOU, and others might want just a flat rate. We need to offer options that are simple, easy to select, and those that participate in helping keep grid costs down should be rewarded monetarily. I shared my observation that utilities can create program incentives more easily than new electricity rates/tariffs. Several effective programs are successfully shifting EV charging times, such as incentives for avoiding peak hours, "strike" programs that incentivize responsible charging, and even free off-peak charging initiatives. This is what we're doing at Rolling Energy Resources. While we continue to experiment with EV managed charging designs, the results so far are incredibly promising. The future of our grid is undeniably dynamic and evolving, and I'm excited to be part of this transformative journey. Let's continue to embrace disruption and innovate for a more sustainable and efficient energy future! 💡🔌🚗🌞🌬️ #GridFWD #EnergyInnovation #EVCharging #SustainableFuture #EmbraceDisruption #electriccars #electricvehicles #utilities #electrification

Behavioral change will make or break your #electricvehicle investment plans. In our free upcoming webinar, we share #EVDX initiative insights from our Detroit Solutions Lab that help you identify obstacles, grow key customer segments, adopt new program designs, and avoid the dreaded scenario of empty chargers and squandered investments. Join Jennifer Szaro of AESP and Bill LeBlanc of Rolling Energy Resources on October 12th from 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM ET.