CAMBRIDGE, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Due to their significant load requirements on existing power grids, the electric vehicles (EV) market will present a large market opportunity for smart grid hardware, software and communications vendors. As rising oil prices and auto-industry advances engender this EV market, a variety of smart grid technologies are becoming increasingly necessary for utilities to deploy in order to maintain grid reliability and safety. GTM Research forecasts cumulative global EV sales to hit 3.8 million by 2016, which will accelerate the rate of adoption of distribution automation technologies, vehicle-to-grid communications, and new software applications.
GTM Research’s latest Smart Grid report is concerned with the impact of electric vehicles on the grid and the next-generation hardware and software solutions that will support their successful introduction. At nearly 100 pages with over 70 figures, The Networked EV: The Convergence of Smart Grids and Electric Vehicles is the first report of its kind to investigate beyond the current, well-known challenges of charging-station deployment and transformer overloading to the more systemic, utility-side issues such as the need for increased visibility and control, tiered retail pricing and reliable communications standards and protocols between distribution grid infrastructure and electric vehicles.
“Despite the appeal of electric transportation, presently the challenges facing utilities due to the introduction of EVs are not very widely, or very well, understood,” said report author and GTM Research’s Senior Manager of Smart Grid, David J. Leeds. “Over the next decade, ensuring adequate distribution grid reliability appears to be the principal challenge related to the initial rollout of EVs. A variety of related grid control and protection issues will necessitate a large investment in smart grid technologies, specifically grid communications and distribution automation.”
Recently, the investment in smart grid-EV infrastructure has focused on the face of the EV, the charging station. In addition, major vendors such as GE and Siemens amongst others, are planning to roll out their respective EV charging equipment in 2011.
“Right now, EV infrastructure investment is centered on electric delivery via the charging stations,” said Leeds. “However, as more public stations and Level 2 home chargers pop up, investment in a new generation of dynamic grid devices will be imperative. Smart grid technologies such as next generation tap changers, voltage regulators, capacitor banks and reclosers, and the communication networks to support these smart devices, will bring a new level of grid optimization and control enabling EVs to safely scale into the tens and hundreds of millions.”
ABOUT THE REPORT
The Networked EV: The Convergence of Smart Grids and Electric Vehicles examines in detail the technology and planning considerations that will lead to a successful smart grid-EV convergence. The report analyzes hot button issues such as transformer build-out and advanced metering (AMI) and charging infrastructure, but also expands the conversation beyond these known challenges to highlight emerging smart grid infrastructure solutions for the EV market. These solutions include communications standards and protocols that act as the "digital handshake" between the grid and the EV, as well as distribution automation (DA) technologies that will enable a more self-aware grid capable of autonomously self-correcting based on EV consumption patterns and moment-to-moment grid conditions.
For more information on the report, as well as pricing and availability, visit:
http://www.gtmresearch.com/report/the-networked-ev-smart-grid
Value-added Elements
- Market, regulatory and cost drivers propelling EV adoption globally
- In-depth analysis of distribution grid trends and upgrade requirements necessary to support large-scale EV roll outs
- Analysis of EV planning considerations for utilities
- EV sales forecast through 2016, with EV penetration by state for the U.S.
- Strategic positioning of smart grid technologies for EV roll-out and grid reliability
Questions for Competitive Decision-making
- How have global market trends such as gasoline prices, regulatory influence, and auto innovation positioned key EV markets?
- What technological issues do utilities need to plan for in order to ensure grid stability given the impact of mass-scale EV roll outs?
- Which smart grid technologies will see the greatest opportunity in the EV market and, how are these smart grid technologies already serving the EV sector?
- Which global region will see the largest share of the EV market through 2016?
- What will be the best utility practices for integrating commercial EV adoption into local grids?
This report is available individually or as part of GTM Research’s Smart Grid Market Research Subscription Service. For more information, please visit http://www.gtmresearch.com/report/smart-grid-market-research-subscription.
David Leeds will be speaking about his research at Greentech Media’s upcoming conference: The Networked Grid 2011 in San Francisco, CA on May 3-4, 2011.
ABOUT GREENTECH MEDIA & GTM RESEARCH
Greentech Media delivers research and analysis in the business-to-business greentech market. Using an integrated platform, we produce high quality products, whether it is industry news, market research or networking events. GTM Research, the research arm of the company, produces in-depth market reports and is the publisher of PV News, a monthly solar market tracker. Greentech Media is headquartered in Boston, MA, with operations in New York, NY, San Francisco, CA and Munich. For more information, visit www.greentechmedia.com.