Will electric cars overwhelm the electrical grid?

Question

You are being told to lower your AC usage on hot days to prevent overwhelming the existing electrical grid while, simultaneously, being to told to trade in our gas cars for electric.

And where does the electricity come from in the first place? Mostly from power plants that run on fossil fuels.

Is this really about lowering emissions?

NamerOfStars · Accepted Answer

Probably not; most people can't afford them. WOULD they overwhelm the grid if widely adopted? Absolutely. I don't know why so many people can't accept that there's no such thing as a free lunch, and that power has to COME from somewhere. But (statistically) you're not seeing the whole picture, here.

Here's something you might not know: Tesla DLC'd its cars. Back at the end of 2019, they implemented a system whereby they downgraded the software governing their cars' acceleration, and then sold the removal, to allow you to use the hardware you paid for at its full capability, as an optional upgrade.

To clarify: if you make, say, a Honda that's more faster and maneuverable, you'll have to make physical changes to the hardware; Tesla doesn't. They only need to make ONE model, and then limit what it can do with the software governing it. So the base model and the performance model are exactly the same car; it's the just that the latter has had its computer unlocked.

Naturally, hackers have stepped up to allow people to unlock the performance boost without paying the two grand Tesla's asking, but Tesla's putting a LOT of effort into defeating these aftermarket efforts; it's only a matter of time before they start DRMing the car altogether, and saying that ANY form of aftermarket modification not only voids the warranty, but forfeits your right to the car's functioning at all.

One of the reasons that Europe became the world powerhouse that it did was the struggle between the various kings and the Pope (and later the Catholic Church and various Protestant factions)- when you have to COMPETE for the loyalty of the people, you're driven to serve them better. Even in more modern times, when companies have to struggle against one another, customers get better products and services. And when corporations have to compete against governments (and vice versa), it's the biggest possible check on their power. But a lot of the people in power, those known and those unknown, would like the ability to remove the mobility of people whose actions and attitudes displease them- and would REALLY like the ability to threaten to remove that mobility suddenly, on a moment's notice. Your social credit score dips too low, and suddenly your car won't accelerate past five miles an hour.

NewsReader · Accepted Answer

I listened to multiple podcasts about this whole shifting to renewable energy topic. And it's clear that all these climate alarmists don't understand how electricity supply works. They are closing fossil fuel plants before building a replacement.  You need to build a replacement before shutting down the main source used now.  Here is one of them   Here is another one

laurieluvsit · Accepted Answer

Yes

80-85% + of the electricity used to power electric vehicles comes from fossil fuel operated electrical plants

The electricity needed to recharge an electric vehicle is six times the amount needed to operate a home air conditioning system

Electric car Batteries have a shelf life, they don't last forever. The contamination caused by the disposal of these batteries is over-the-top hazardous to the environment.

Bottom line - electric cars are a joke and another aspect of the communist Mass Formation Psychosis that is being perpetrated upon the American people right now.

Don't get me started on the Man Made Global Warming Fraud!

Another great question Mr Lliam

youngmix · Accepted Answer

The modern grid, yes. But this should not be a problem for very long, the future is here:

Slartybartfast · Answer

No, in fact they have the potential to add capacity.

(I'm an electrical engineer who works at a power plant)

Household electric consumption is way down, it's peak demand that is increasing due to the extreme weather caused by climate change. Net metering is a great way to lower demand.

Remember most of the time a vehicle is parked adding a nice battery bank to the grid.

Solar and evs are perfect for the suburban homes. Four panels provide all my transportation needs, I've yet to charge off of the grid.

I wrote a paper when I lived in Florida that showed it's stupid to build a home without solar as they save the homeowners thousands immediately. A solar system installation during hone construction adds about $12 a month to a 20 year mortgage and saves about $280.. again.

One reason they are pushing for minimum connection fee increases is to thwart home energy production (it's also so the poor can subsidize the rich just like Florida's house insurance laws do) to protect coal profits.

Remember , there are literally billions being spent to promote false anti ev anti renewable propaganda to protect Putin (Rupert Murdoch's best buddy) Saudi Arabia and other enemies of freedom and democracy.

LikeALog · Answer

At least one state, maybe city, restricts when EV's are allowed to be recharged.
As we have more EV's in use, even charging at night might be a problem. Solar panels don't generate power at night and wind powered generators produce less power at night as wind velocity is lower.
Generating more power is a solution only if power distribution (substations, transmission lines) are upgraded first.
I did see a prototype EV powered by solar panels on the vehicle. Maybe that's a solution in some parts of the world.
So yes, the grid will be overwhelmed.

lightbulb27 · Answer

can't make sense out of it either. batteries aren't efficient enough yet and be a while until have a better battery. only thing that does at the moment is hybrid engines to increase effiency, making smaller more effieint cars... ala Europe. could use solar panels on houses.

What makes sense is training people to stop charging all their devices all the time, turn off their phones and video games, turn off their routers and electric crap at night when not in use. kids are on their phones all day. they should read the manuals... which says to turn them off when not in use.

Europe is more efficient with electricity and fuel because it's more expensive. were going that way...

were in big trouble, starting with the west usa.

BCA6010 · Answer

Pffft no it's not about the environment at all. It's a means to gatekeep private vehicle ownership from the plebs, and coral people into the cities in order to more easily control them through dependency on public transit systems, which are also woefully underdeveloped in most US cities.

And yes, there's no way the US electrical grid would be able to handle it, especially if attempting to rely on non-nuclear renewable energy. Even if they were interested in going nuclear, it takes an average of 5 years to build a new plant.

Now no doubt there are some very stupid and easily manipulated people in governments all over the world who are willfully ignorant to the realities of the infrastructure necessary to facilitate widespread EV usage, or how devastating lithium mining is, or how much waste is made from expired solar panels, or how wind farms devastate bird populations allowing for bugs and rodents to spiral out of control.

RealMarek · Answer

Of course they will. And it isn’t really about lowering emissions. It is about the WEF’s fourth industrial revolution: making cars so expensive most people will be forced into paying for rides in self-driving vehicles. In the words of Klaus Schwab, “You will own nothing and be happy.” Unless you are an elite. Then you will own everything.

jshm2 · Answer

Yes. You clearly don't understand how "the grid" works.

Nor are you plugging your car in next to your toaster. Nor are you just magiking an electric car out of thin air to add to the grid.

You understand car registration is a thing, right?

As for hot days, it's more to stop you crapping you pants looking at your electric bill, than overwhelming the grid. Actually most electric comes from renewables. But in some backwards places like the USA the system is so old, that they still rely on old powerplants.

RolandCuthbert · Answer

I don't understand how you can be 68 years old and not know that natural gas is our leading source for electrical power. I thought everyone knew this.

Natural gas is clean, it does not leave a carbon foot print.

We need more sources of electric power like wind, nuclear, and solar.

Andres77 · Answer

It takes more energy to produce an electric vehicle than that vehicle can ever save. It's starts out as negative impact.

NathanDavis · Answer

some regions are more prepared than others... to deal with these kind of stuff, or they aren't... Texas is messed up, either way

boobliker · Answer

they may well do if things are not put in place to avoided it

exitseven · Answer

gee, ya think?

Will electric cars overwhelm the electrical grid?

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