EV Power Pulse Issue #26

Electrify America reduces charger congestion, Biden’s $1.7B EV manufacturing investment, and two startups make charging easier for aging homes.

Author

Steve Taylor
July 20, 2024

Illustrated by Kaylin Duynstee

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Hi everyone,

Here are today’s stories:

  • Electrify America’s Congestion Reduction Pilot tests an 85% charge limit.

  • The Biden Administration invests $1.7B in EV manufacturing. 

  • Savant and Stepwise want to make at-home charging more affordable in older houses.

Enjoy this morning’s issue. 

–Steve 

Current EVents

EV Industry Updates

Electrify America, one of the largest EV charging networks in the U.S., is launching an innovative Congestion Reduction Pilot program designed to reduce wait times at crowded charging stations. The initiative, currently being tested at 10 locations in Southern California, will cap charging sessions at 85% of a vehicle's battery capacity.

This approach leverages the charging characteristics of most modern EVs, which typically see a significant decrease in charging speed above 80% capacity. By capping sessions at 85%, Electrify America aims to enhance the efficiency of each charging stall and minimize overall wait times for customers.

Under the pilot program, chargers will automatically stop once a vehicle reaches 85% capacity. Customers will then have a 10-minute grace period to disconnect and move their vehicle before idle fees are applied. Additionally, vehicles arriving with a charge level of 85% or higher will not be able to start a charging session.

Electrify America has strategically selected pilot locations that are within proximity to other charging stations, ensuring that drivers needing a full charge for longer trips can find nearby alternatives. The company will closely monitor customer feedback throughout the trial and may adjust or expand the program based on the results.

Steve's Take:

Electrify America’s pilot program is a creative attempt to address a major challenge in the EV charging experience: congestion at popular charging stations. By implementing an 85% charge limit, the company is attempting to strike a balance between individual driver needs and overall network efficiency.

The strategy aligns with best practices for EV battery longevity, as regular charging to 100% can accelerate battery degradation. However, it may face resistance from drivers accustomed to fully charging their batteries, especially during long trips. For that reason, I can see this being more effective in urban environments where stations are more readily available. 

The success of this program will likely depend on how well Electrify America communicates the benefits to users and ensures that full-charge options remain accessible when needed. If successful, this approach could set a new standard for managing high-traffic charging locations.

–Steve

Power and Policy

Last Thursday, the Biden Administration announced a $1.7B federal grant package to support auto manufacturing and assembly facilities across eight states in their transition to EV production. Funded by the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022, this initiative aims to enhance the nation’s EV manufacturing capabilities while protecting automotive jobs.

One notable beneficiary of this initiative is the Jeep factory in Belvidere, Illinois. Closed last year, the plant is set to reopen and shift to EV production, restoring nearly 1,450 jobs. This revival serves as a prime example of the Administration's commitment to both industrial revitalization and clean energy advancement.

The grants will support a wide array of projects beyond traditional passenger vehicles. Funds will be allocated for the production of electric school buses, motorcycles, and the conversion of existing facilities from conventional to electric vehicle manufacturing.

In selecting grant recipients, the Administration has prioritized union-represented workforces and communities that have historically faced high pollution levels or lack of investment. To qualify for the funding, companies must commit to retraining their existing workforce and providing additional benefits such as child care and pensions.

The timing of this investment is critical. Despite some recent hesitancy from automakers, the EV market is showing signs of growth, with U.S. EV sales increasing by 11.3% in the second quarter of 2024 compared to the previous year. This funding injection could help accelerate the industry’s momentum.

Rob's Take:

By tying federal support to job preservation and creation, the Biden Administration is addressing a key concern of the US’s transition to electrification, which is the potential impact on traditional auto manufacturing jobs.

The strategic allocation of funds to swing states like Pennsylvania, Michigan, and Georgia also reveals the political considerations behind this policy. As the 2024 election approaches, the Administration is positioning itself as a champion of both industrial workers and clean energy initiatives.

However, the long-term success of this program will depend on more than just manufacturing capacity. Consumer adoption of EVs, while growing, remains a critical challenge, with ongoing concerns about affordability and charging infrastructure. The Administration must continue to address these issues to ensure that increased production aligns with market demand.

–Rob 

Emerging EV Tech

Many homes, especially those built before high-power appliances became common, have electrical panels and wiring that struggle to handle the power demands of EV chargers alongside other household devices. Two companies, Stepwise and Savant, are addressing this challenge with smart power management solutions.

Stepwise has developed a system that intelligently manages power flow between a home's electrical panel and EV charger. Their device monitors overall household power consumption and adjusts the EV charging rate accordingly. This allows homeowners to safely charge their EVs without the need for expensive electrical upgrades. For homes with these smart chargers, the Stepwise system can dynamically adjust charging speeds, ensuring continuous charging even during periods of high household power demand.

Savant, a Hyannis-based smart home technology company, is taking a broader approach with their upcoming Savant Power Budget system scheduled to launch in September. This solution uses smart circuit breaker modules to manage power consumption across multiple household devices.

The system allows homeowners to program power priorities, automatically adjusting usage based on time of day or overall consumption. For instance, it could reduce power to a water heater during EV charging or schedule air conditioning downtime to allow for overnight vehicle charging.

These innovations are particularly significant given the prevalence of homes with lower-capacity electrical panels. According to Savant, as many as 50 million U.S. households have panels rated at 125 amps or less, meaning there’s a significant market for these smart power management solutions.

Steve's Take:

These products from Stepwise and Savant help to solve a significant barrier to EV ownership for many Americans with older homes. By eliminating the need for expensive electrical upgrades, they make EV ownership more accessible to a broader range of households. 

However, it's important to note that while these solutions are innovative, they may only be stop-gap measures. In the long term, we'll need to address the underlying issue of our aging electrical infrastructure. 

As EVs become the norm rather than the exception, household electricity demand will continue to increase, potentially outstripping the capabilities of these smart management systems. Additionally, the integration of vehicle-to-grid (V2G) technologies, which allow EVs to feed power back into the home or grid, will further increase the complexity of home power management.

–Steve

EV INDUSTRY STAT OF THE WEEK

According to Pew Research, 90% of all public charging stations in the US were concentrated in cities as of February 27, 2024. However, the rural parts of the US have seen EV chargers grow at a rate of 34% vs. 29% in cities. They have a long way to go, but progress is being made.

EV Charging the News

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Until next time, stay charged!
- Steve and Rob

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