Race to zero: Can California’s power grid handle a 15-fold increase in electric cars?

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As California rapidly boosts sales of electric cars and trucks over the next decade, the answer to a critical question remains uncertain: Will there be enough electricity to power them?

Six days after California approved a rapid ramp-up of electric car sales, a heat wave triggered 10 days of brownout warnings.With 15 times more electric cars expected on California’s roads by 2035, the amount of power they consume will grow exponentially. But the California Energy Commission says it will remain a small fraction of all the power used during peak hours — jumping from 1% in 2022 to 5% in 2030 and 10% in 2035.

Yet the Energy Commission has not yet developed such policies or plans, drawing intense criticism from energy experts and legislators. Failing to provide enough power quickly enough could jeopardize California’s clean-car mandate — thwarting its efforts to combat climate change and clean up its smoggy air.

Develop a giant new industry: State officials predict that offshore wind farms will provide enough power for about 1.5 million homes by 2030 and 25 million homes by 2045. But no such projects are in the works yet. Planning them, obtaining an array of permits and construction could take at least seven to eight years.

“That’s what we’re particularly concerned about,” he said. “We have enough electricity to support consumption the vast majority of the time. It’s when we have those peak hours during those tough months.

Concerns about the grid “are quite a big deal for us. We don’t want people to be confused or lose confidence that the utility is going to be able to meet their needs.”Fast chargers — like the Tesla superchargers available at some public spots — can juice up a battery to 80% within 20 minutes to an hour. But most chargers are a lot slower: A level one charger, often supplied by manufacturers, could take between. An upgraded, level two charger can take four to ten hours, according to the U.S.

 

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This is a joke. Making everyone buy and EV will just make thing worst

Assumptions, yes.

What the fuck are these 'California Officials' smoking?

Newsom will limp it by for the next 4 years, and then its not his problem. He will have the accolade of forward thinking, but some poor shmuck will have to deal with Newsom's failures and the people will suffer, as usual.

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