Issue link: https://resources.mouser.com/i/1510154
26 EV and Connected Transportation Electrification is here to stay, and demand will reach a light-off point when costs reach parity with traditional internal combustion engine vehicles later this decade. Charging remains a factor that can limit the proliferation of electric vehicles. V2G provides a flexible energy storage option, addressing a significant barrier to renewable energy. I n 2020, global electric vehicle (EV) sales increased by 41%, totaling nearly 3 million vehicles—in a year when overall vehicle sales sank 6%. All regions contributed to the change: The EU surpassed China as the largest importer of EVs in 2020, and the US is targeting 50% of new fleet vehicles to be electric by 2030. However, China still has more EVs on the road than any other geographic area, at 4.5 million cars compared to the EU's 3.2 million. IEA indicated that the 6.8 million global battery electric vehicles (BEVs) on the road today will grow to 250 million by 2030. Electrification is here to stay, and demand will reach a light-off point when costs reach parity with traditional internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles later this decade. EV opponents are quick to point out that charging is the next factor to limit the proliferation of electric vehicles once the cost is in line. EV Charging Today Today, most EVs are charged by drawing from existing power sources, many of which are non- renewable (such as grid power). To maintain carbon- EV Charging Can Be a Two-Way Street Adam Kimmel for Mouser Electronics neutral or carbon-negative status and address the severe impact of climate change, the Sixth Assessment Report from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) strongly recommends renewable energy sources. If the charging infrastructure were to move to incorporate renewable energy supplies such as solar, wind, biomass, and hydroelectric, there are natural limitations to the availability and reliability of that power. Nevertheless, EVs are a significant avenue toward decarbonizing the transportation sector. As a result, the industry will need to answer questions like the following: • What happens to solar energy at night or during cloudy days? • What if the wind isn't blowing regularly or hard enough? • Can the conversion of renewable energy to electrical be fully carbon-free? To answer these questions, it is essential to review the current methods for sourcing the grid's electricity and what will be needed to charge EVs.