EPRI introduces online tool to help power companies identify EV infrastructure needs

The Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) released an interactive online resource designed to help electric power companies plan for the infrastructure needed to serve electric vehicles (EVs).

The resource, called eRoadMAP, was developed as part of EPRI’s EVs2Scale2030 initiative, along with support from truck and car manufacturers, fleet operators, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), the DOE National Labs, RMI, and others.

This free tool, available to the public, allows users to explore how quickly EVs are expected in different regions, and identifies energy needs across the U.S. To highlight both near-term and future energy needs, eRoadMAP incorporates the electrification plans of critical industry stakeholders as well as the future energy needs to support full electrification of the on-road transportation sector.

“If you can’t measure it, you can’t manage it,” EPRI Director of Transportation Britta Gross said. “Despite the critical need, there has not been a single, comprehensive database to help with grid planning and cross-industry decision-making for electrified transportation. eRoadMAP will connect the dots for industry and government to work in collaboration to meet current and future EV infrastructure needs.”

Officials said the tool is a work in progress and will continue to be updated and improved with additional data.

“As we work to decarbonize the transportation sector, visualizing the year-over-year anticipated grid loads using eRoadMAP will be critical to important planning conversations that enable the timely buildout of charging and grid infrastructure,” Michael Berube, DOE’s deputy assistant secretary for sustainable transportation and fuels, said. “We look forward to continued work with EPRI, leveraging DOE and the national labs’ longstanding expertise in modeling the energy needs for electric vehicles, to increase coverage of ground transportation sources and continually improve this valuable tool’s projection accuracy.”

The EVs2Scale2030 initiative is a three-year commitment focused on deploying electric vehicles at scale to achieve 2030 electrification goals. EPRI will leverage its industry partnerships to mobilize utilities, fleet operators, the automotive industry, and charging providers, and coordinate with federal agencies and labs, to support the rapid deployment of millions of electric vehicles.

“Today, one in seven of all EVs in the nation are in PG&E’s service area. We are committed to further accelerating transportation electrification to promote healthy communities and lower energy costs for our customers’ families and businesses. To unleash the full potential of EVs, we must proactively plan for a resilient grid to accommodate new demand from EVs. eRoadMAP will give us insight into our customers’ long-term plans, which we can utilize to better prepare our grid for future electrification demand,” Mike Delaney, PG&E VP of utility partnerships and innovation, said.