TCS research shows: E-cars can reduce electricity shortages

Electric cars can relieve the burden on the Swiss electricity grid and reduce dependence on imported electricity. This is the conclusion of a study published by the Touring Club Schweiz (TCS) on Wednesday.

On the one hand, the authors see potential in the loading time. By shifting charging times, e-vehicles can partially compensate for fluctuations in the electricity grid caused by the time of day.

Because according to TCS, most e-cars are hardly used during office hours. Instead of being charged in the morning or evening, electric cars can be charged during the day or at night to relieve the burden on the electricity grid.

On the other hand, the authors see potential in so-called bi-directional charging. Vehicles that support this technology can not only store electricity, but also supply it back to the grid. There are already electric cars on the market that can be charged bidirectionally. In the future, this technology will be standard for most electric vehicles.

With a 20 percent share of bidirectional vehicles in the total range of electric cars, peak loads on the electricity grid can be reduced by 5 percent by 2025. The TCS assumes an 11 percent reduction before the end of the decade. This means that 5 to 11 percent less power must be available at peak times, which would otherwise have to be supplied by expensive imports from abroad or by starting up power plants.

(oli/sda/awp)