NERC emphasizes need for transportation, electricity sectors to collaborate

According to new data from the North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC), cross-sector coordination is becoming increasingly important among historically independent industries, as a result of the transformative push from electric vehicles into the market.

“As the rapid electrification of the fleet continues, increased cross-sector awareness, collaboration, innovation and information sharing will be essential to closing these knowledge gaps, meeting future demand and ensuring grid reliability, resilience and security,” Soo Jin Kim, NERC’s vice president of Engineering and Standards, said.

In a recent white paper – Potential Bulk Power System Impact of Electric Vehicle Chargers – the organization noted that significant load growth is projected among EVs and their charging systems through 2050, as the country shifts toward no emissions technology. That study was largely focused on figuring out how EV chargers interact with the grid, so as to promote grid-friendly behaviors and emphasize the need for cross-sector collaboration.

While this might sound straightforward, the paper emphasized the unknowns that remain with EVs and their charging systems, especially as historic load compositions largely focused on mechanical motors for end-use consumption of electricity, whereas EVs have different end uses based wholly on customer preference and what new technologies can manage.

Managing the transition effectively now, NEC added, could help avoid potential adverse impacts to reliability – something critical to industries across the board.