Electric Vehicles Continue to Emerge in Oregon

By now you’ve probably seen one of the next-generation EVs plying the streets of Portland or cruising down I-5. As one of the American launch markets for Nissan’s new LEAF (Low-Emission, Alternative Fuel) sedan, Portland and the Willamette Valley have been getting a good look at this new breed of auto. More electric vehicle models will be introduced in the market in the near future, including the Chevrolet Volt and the Mitsubishi i. Nearly every major auto manufacturer has some sort of electric vehicle in the development stage, indicating that the EV revolution is finally becoming a reality. All of these developments are exciting for people interested in cars, energy efficiency, environmental activism, and more. They also are spurring a number of discussions on policies regarding how to integrate EVs into Oregon’s electric grid and transportation network.

A primary policy issue that has arisen regarding EVs and the grid is the impact of adding vehicle charging stations to homes, businesses, and parking lots that want to offer charging capabilities. If EVs eventually achieve a sizeable market share in Oregon, the grid is going to need to be able to handle the additional load that this shift towards electrified transportation is going to create. For example, commuters arriving home after rush hour will plug their EVs in to charge just as the evening peak-use period for electricity is occurring. If most of these customers don’t need to use their vehicles again until morning, it may be helpful for the utilities to be able to communicate with the vehicles and charging units and manage the peak hour load by ramping charging up and down. EV owners could also opt for a time-of-use rate schedule that would allow them to charge their vehicles overnight at rates that would be significantly lower than what they would pay to charge during peak hours.

On the commercial side of the charging equation, there is also the question of what kinds of entities will be eligible to operate charging units. A number of companies are emerging in the EV charging industry, each scouting out locations and territory for installing charging infrastructure. Utilities need to establish a rate structure for EV charging that is fair to both customers and infrastructure operators. Furthermore, utilities entering the business of operating charging stations themselves should be required to do so under an affiliate ownership structure to ensure that the cost of the charging infrastructure does not get passed through to ratepayers. It is CUB’s preference that utilities are not made to be the primary operators of charging units, but if they are, the rates at which these units are billed should be the same as the utilities charge to any other operator.

One issue that that has yet to be fully resolved is that of standardizing the various types of charging stations and EVs to ensure good compatibility. A recent New York Times article highlights current industry efforts and challenges in this area. However, settling the precise connector types and standards for the myriad charging stations and vehicle types is likely a small technical hurdle that will not ultimately represent a serious problem for EV owners.

Meanwhile, charging stations continue to grow in number throughout the state, with the majority being along the I-5 corridor. In fact, Oregonians with range anxiety will be happy to know that just this month, ODOT announced its selection of AeroVironment Inc. to install and maintain 22 new fast charging stations in the state. These are the Level 3 DC fast charging stations that can take some EV models from 0-80% charge in under 30 minutes. A map of proposed sites for the charging stations is available on the ODOT website. While these are only proposed sites, this or a similar distribution would likely make all but the most remote parts of the state accessible for some EV models, allowing for use of the vehicles for more than mere commuting purposes.

Portlanders interested in looking at some of the different charging stations are encouraged to visit PSU’s “Electric Avenue”, a project designed both to showcase EV technologies and to serve as a public charging station for them as well. On site there are charging stations from various companies including Eaton, ECOtality, General Electric, Northwrite Inc., OpConnect, Shorepower Technologies, and SPX. Only one of the 8 charging stations there is a DC fast charging model, but EV owners take note: You pay to park, but the charging is free. For more information, check out the Electric Avenue Website.

CUB will continue to be actively involved with the various aspects of electric vehicle implementation in Oregon. One venue for discussion will be an upcoming conference hosted by CUB’s sister organization, the CUB Policy Center. Titled Smart Grid: Today’s Regulation and Tomorrow’s Technology, the conference is specifically designed to engage stakeholders through the region in a thoughtful review of existing regulations combined with a thorough understanding of the possibilities of Smart Grid.

We hope you will join us. Please register today as space is limited.

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