electrify vehicles & bikes. |
: electrifying mobility and adding EV charging to buildings - from residences to commercial spaces
EV's + E-Bikes. They are here. More are coming fast
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Did you know that the transportation sector makes up ~40% of U.S. annual emissions, and ~35% here in Missoula?
Although the focus of Electrify Missoula is the built environment, there's not doubt we need to electrify everything, including how we move around. And, for folks that want to Electrify but are limited in what they can do to their home or business, electrifying transportation can be an empowering option. (Wondering about the impacts of batteries, emissions and the electricity grid mix? Scroll down for graphs comparing EVs to gasoline vehicles in Montana and "cradle to grave.") For more detailed info about the climate impacts of these transportation solutions, (electric bikes, buses and vehicles), visit Climate Smart Missoula's webpage HERE. |
As we build new or retrofit buildings, we need to think about adding EV charging stations onsite. And, as our internal-combustion vehicles age, both personally and in our work (delivery anyone?), we need to think about transitioning to electric vehicles. Plus, there are tax incentives to offset costs!
Getting "EV Ready" - what to know
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First. If you have or plan to get an e-bike, you don't need to do anything! The battery pack plugs into the wall. You are good to go! Yippee! (Watch Abby's story about transitioning to a one-car family and getting a cargo e-bike.)
Second. If you're a homeowner considering purchasing an EV, you may need to upgrade your electrical system to accommodate at-home charging. What you do depends on what kind of charging you're looking for:
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Third. if you are planning, building or retrofitting a housing complex or commercial building, here are recommendations:
- Be EVSE Capable (Electric Vehicle Supply Equipment) – A parking spaces is EVSE Capable if it is provided with conduit sized for a minimum 40-amp, 208/240-volt dedicated branch circuit from an electrical panelboard with sufficient physical space to accommodate a minimum 40-amp, dual-pol circuit breaker.
- The conduit is a PVC pipe that is the right size to allow for the proper wires to be run through from the electrical panel, in the building or outdoor box, that can connect to the charging station and provide it the power it needs to function.
- Without a town or county regulation, the amount you want to have "capable" or "ready" depends on what your parking lot is used for. The percentage of capable and ready spaces really depends on the community and its goals around EVSE deployment, NetZero, EV registration, and equity. So the amount you prepare for depends on: number of spaces, use of the lot and organizational goals.
- The Department of Energy has great information about charging infrastructure in general and provides more detailed info based on the user needs here.
Another cool thing that is coming - V2G:
Vehicle-to-grid technology, known as V2G, would allow cars charging during the day to take on surplus power from renewable energy sources. During peak demand times, electric vehicles would return some of that stored energy to the grid. As demand tapers off in the evening, the cars would be able to recharge.
V2G could be especially beneficial if used by heavy-duty fleets, such as school buses or utility vehicles. Those fleets would have substantial battery storage and long periods where they’re idle, such as evenings and weekends — and even longer periods like summer and the holiday season when school is out. The batteries on a bus could store as much as 10 times the electricity needed to power a home for a day.
Vehicle-to-grid technology, known as V2G, would allow cars charging during the day to take on surplus power from renewable energy sources. During peak demand times, electric vehicles would return some of that stored energy to the grid. As demand tapers off in the evening, the cars would be able to recharge.
V2G could be especially beneficial if used by heavy-duty fleets, such as school buses or utility vehicles. Those fleets would have substantial battery storage and long periods where they’re idle, such as evenings and weekends — and even longer periods like summer and the holiday season when school is out. The batteries on a bus could store as much as 10 times the electricity needed to power a home for a day.
Impacts: Batteries, Emissions & The Grid
Lots of questions arise about the transition to EVs and the environmental impacts of batteries and the electric grid mix.
The simplest part of this conversation is: if you can transition from a car (any car) to a bike or bus, that's the best climate option. But let's be real, for most of us in Missoula, we depend on a car at least some of the time.
The next question is, would an e-bike empower you to replace the majority of your car trips with two wheels? If so, an e-bike has less of an environmental impact than an EV.
Finally, though, assuming you need a car, an EV is a much better environmental option than a gasoline-powered car, even considering batteries AND our current electric grid mix in Montana. (EVs aren't a perfect solution, though, and we need to continue to demand ethical mining practices and mineral extraction. For more about the impact of batteries in general, check out #5 on our debunking myths page. For more EV myths debunked, dive into this series from The Guardian.)
Check out the graphs and links below for more data on electric vs gas-powered vehicles.
The simplest part of this conversation is: if you can transition from a car (any car) to a bike or bus, that's the best climate option. But let's be real, for most of us in Missoula, we depend on a car at least some of the time.
The next question is, would an e-bike empower you to replace the majority of your car trips with two wheels? If so, an e-bike has less of an environmental impact than an EV.
Finally, though, assuming you need a car, an EV is a much better environmental option than a gasoline-powered car, even considering batteries AND our current electric grid mix in Montana. (EVs aren't a perfect solution, though, and we need to continue to demand ethical mining practices and mineral extraction. For more about the impact of batteries in general, check out #5 on our debunking myths page. For more EV myths debunked, dive into this series from The Guardian.)
Check out the graphs and links below for more data on electric vs gas-powered vehicles.
Source: Department of Energy, 2023. Factoring in building the vehicle, the battery and the fuel, EVs come out on top.
Source: Department of Energy. Even with Montana's mixed-fuel electricity grid, EVs have much lower annual emissions than all other available vehicles.
