Impact of Medium- and Heavy-Duty Electric Vehicles and the Grid: An Address-Level/Bottom-Up California Case Study

Utilities face significant challenges when trying to assess the impact of medium and heavy-duty vehicle (MHD) electrification on the grid. This article discusses the benefits of an address-level approach to estimating the impact of MHD charging loads and how the approach is implemented to identify and estimate MHD EV charging loads in the Otay Mesa area. Location plays a significant role in determining projected loads as fleet facilities are not uniformly distributed across an area. Large concentrations of vehicles, chargers, and dense facility clustering all have the potential to create loads exceeding hundreds of MW in localized areas. Hence, the need to understand the potential impact is significant. Knowing this information is essential to properly plan for MHD EVs and will ensure utilities can serve as an enabler of MHD electrification rather than an inhibitor.