The Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) has launched a tool called GridFast that will give utilities a jump start on planning for new EV charging loads.
GridFast will allow EV fleet operators and charging providers to share their project plans with utilities at an early stage — well before they make a service request. Utilities can then use the information to plan for customer loads in aggregate, rather than looking at one customer load at a time.
“Through this single platform, we can now collaborate with customers to plan transportation electrification projects years in advance, giving us the visibility to reliably serve their future electrification needs,” Elyssia Lawrence, Portland General Electric (PGE) senior manager of transportation electrification, said in a statement.
EPRI started its nationwide launch of GridFast on Sept. 30, with participation in 33 states.
GridFast offers benefits to utility customers as well. The GridFast portal matches the project location to the correct utility and the appropriate point of contact. The portal uses the same project intake form no matter which utility is involved. It also shows any EV-related programs that might be available.
GridFast works with another EPRI tool, eRoadMAP, to estimate load hosting capacity and help customers with feasibility planning.
“You enter some project information, even if you don’t yet know everything, and you get an estimate of the power needed and other information to begin a utility conversation,” said Taki Darakos, vice president of vehicle maintenance and fleet services for trucking company PITT OHIO.
The Pennsylvania-based company has been investing in EVs and charging infrastructure, including an electrification project at its Harrisburg terminal. Darakos said PITT OHIO interacts with around a dozen utilities that serve its sites, and each has its own programs and procedures. He sees GridFast as a way to streamline those interactions.
EV Load Impact
EPRI estimates that a fully electrified transportation sector could increase current electricity use by about 40%, adding roughly 1,600 TWh of load to the grid. EVs now in operation use about 1.5% of that expected load.
To address barriers to large-scale transportation electrification, EPRI launched a three-year initiative called EVs2Scale2030. Through the initiative, EPRI plans to work with utilities, fleet operators, vehicle manufacturers, charging providers and federal agencies to support the rapid deployment of millions of EVs while minimizing grid impacts.
GridFast is the initiative’s second key planning tool, following the launch of eRoadMAP, a public tool that shows where and when loads are likely to appear on the grid.
PGE and PITT OHIO are among 15 companies that have signed onto GridFast’s “guiding principles.”
Through the principles, utility customers pledge to submit their EV charging projects through the portal as early as possible, while encouraging utilities to use GridFast. Utilities pledge to promote GridFast to customers. And each side agrees to actively engage with the other on project planning.
The “founding group” supporting the principles includes Ameren, CenterPoint Energy, Con Edison, Consumers Energy, DHL, Great River Energy, IONNA, National Grid, Omaha Public Power District, Pacific Gas & Electric, PITT OHIO, PGE, Republic Services, Sacramento Municipal Utility District and Southern California Edison.
