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This week’s extreme heat and energy event has sparked some to suggest electric vehicles could further strain California’s energy grid as the state prepares to ban the sale of new gas-powered cars, claims energy experts across the state said are far from the truth.

"It’s political," said Siva Gunda, vice chair of the California Energy Commission.

Conservatives like radio talk show host and candidate in Gavin Newsom’s 2021 recall election, Larry Elder, have made the claim.

Elder tweeted during the latest heat wave: “Only 1.9% of vehicles in California are EVs. What happens to the grid when California bans the sale of new gas cars in 2035? Just when you think the Dem run state can’t get any more idiotic.”

Gunda said during peak energy use between 4 and 9 p.m., electric vehicle charging accounts for about half a percent, and in the worst-case scenario, up to 1%. By 2030, when California phases out the sale of most gas-powered cars, he said the number is projected to be up to 4%.

“At about 2030, we reach 4% of the peak load in a completely unmanaged situation, meaning we are charging without actively managing the charges, so if we continue to manage them, it could be even lower,” Gunda said.

Experts noted most EV charging is done in off-peak hours, mostly because of time-of-use rates set by utilities that push drivers to power up overnight. Industry experts said efficient charging technology is just getting started.

"There are other examples for public charging or fleet charging where we combine EV charging at the same site with solar and storage, so we’re basically charging off of onsite renewable energy that’s generated right there," said Marc Monbouquette, a policy advisor for Enel North America, a company that manufactures EV charging stations.

Both Monbouquette and Gunda also emphasized Thursday that electric vehicles can help take pressure off of the grid.

For example, EV batteries in some models are able to serve a similar role as backup generators. Gunda pointed to the example of the new electric Ford F-150, which has a battery that can provide power to a home for up to a week.

“You could ship the entire load of your house onto your vehicle and not have to put anything on the grid,” Gunda said.

Other vehicles with the capability to serve as a power source include the Nissan Leaf, the Hyundai Ioniq 5, electric school buses, and other recently released EVs.

“We’re seeing a lot of momentum here. It’s something that has existed but as we get more vehicles on the road with this capability, it’s going to become a much more influential resource,” Monbouquette said.

Experts also noted programs are in the works to incentivize EV owners to discharge their battery power back onto the grid during emergencies such as the state’s recent extreme heat and energy event. The California Public Utilities Commission in 2021 established the Emergency Load Reduction Program, which, when triggered, will compensate energy customers for putting power back onto the grid for $2 per kWh.

“EVs not only pull from the grid but have a humungous potential to put energy back on the grid. It’s something we don’t actively talk about because it’s in a piloting stage,” Gunda said. “But when we get to that point, there could be a net benefit from EVs rather than a penalty on the grid at any given point."

Gunda acknowledged boosting electrification across the state will require more power from the state’s energy grid during peak use. The California Energy Commission has said by 2045, the state’s energy demand could reach 78,000 megawatts. Tuesday’s record-breaking demand, a day when several parts of California saw record-high temperatures, was 52,000.

Gunda said the state’s energy storage capacity continues to grow, with the capability to add about 2,000 to 4,000 megawatts of renewable energy on the grid every year, which he said should meet the state’s future needs.

“We need to double, triple down on the climate agenda during these times of crisis,” Gunda said. “Not doubt ourselves on the path there.”

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