6 grid innovations quietly powering the EV revolution
These electric grid innovations could make EVs more commonplace and reduce the country’s carbon emissions
People have been dreaming about using electric vehicles for over a century. You may be surprised to learn that the first battery-powered electric car debuted in 1834 — long before accessible, affordable grid technology existed. Modern electric infrastructure has been slowly catching up to vehicle innovations, creating a greener future one creative solution at a time.
There are numerous reasons why highways aren’t full of electricity-fueled futuristic cars yet. Companies need time to get investors interested in groundbreaking projects, then for engineering and safety testing. Even if you see any headlines about an effort getting that far, the entity still has to handle manufacturing timelines and meet federal regulations.
The grid poses its own challenges. While experts with the U.S. Department of Energy expect efficient transformer upgrades to reduce public electricity consumption by 3.83 kilojoules, local power grids still need to catch up to technological advances. The outdated cabling and transformers you see around town may not be able to handle the local population all charging their cars.
Updating transformers is a critical step in making EV-reliant roadways that are easier on the planet. A mix of private businesses and government branches has varying degrees of ownership over them. Waiting for them to work together, finalize project plans, and complete upgrades might take time. While that progresses, creative minds are busy dreaming of ways to empower the national grid.
The latest inventions could make it easier for electrical grids to support increased EV usage. You might get excited about a more sustainable future once you know how people are reshaping the country for battery-powered transportation.
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1. Vehicle-to-grid (V2G) charging
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If you don’t already have an electric car, you might not know that vehicle-to-grid (V2G) arrangements already exist. V2G technology lets EVs feed extra energy storage into the grid during peak electricity demand when someone charges their vehicle. The grid gets immediate support, and EV owners potentially earn financial rewards, depending on their car’s manufacturer or energy provider.
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2. Leak detection sensors
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Electricity doesn’t visibly leak like a broken faucet, but it still happens. You may see your local energy company installing smart sensors to stop electricity waste. LEM is an electrical measurement firm that manufactures leak-detecting RCM type B sensors, which save power grids from overworking. They’re easy to install and able to make older transformers work efficiently while local teams strategize their replacements.
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3. Surge alert devices
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Internet of Things (IoT) sensors are more accessible than LEM’s high-tech units. While they can’t provide the same services, basic IoT models can send real-time information to power companies and connected smart devices.
When the sensors understand that a power surge is about to happen based on historical data and current electricity demand, they communicate that to EVs, smart thermostats, and any other electrical device. Those products automatically reduce their consumption until the surge ends.
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4. Renewable energy integration
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Every time someone connects a sustainable energy source to a power grid, it can feed electricity back to generator facilities. The two-way system reduces how much a local plant needs to generate, which minimizes grid strain. Berkeley Lab research found that existing green electricity storage and generation technology can power 80% of the country’s electricity demand, so making two-way connections more common could significantly fuel the grid without overworking it.
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5. Smart grid valves
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SmartValve technologies are expanding current grid capacity during trial runs. The Central Hudson Gas & Electric company in New York installed SmartValve sensors and produced 185 megawatts of extra power during the deployment. The tech makes it easier for the grid to carry additional electricity while managing its typical production. Innovative resources like grid add-ons could help the nation improve its carbon footprint with fewer intense public or private works projects.
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6. Self-healing transmission technologies
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You might soon live in a world where transmission lines heal themselves after minor damage. Self-healing technology is becoming more mainstream as companies like Duke Energy in North Carolina test them. The hardware routes power to outages through backup pathways for faster service restoration. If the grid can withstand the effects of climate change and prevent outages in more situations, it can charge the EVs people use to access help or get food during emergencies.