EV temperature check: Are utilities ready for the incoming EV wave?
Utilities are facing a once-in-a-century opportunity—or challenge—to integrate electric transportation into their program portfolios and onto the grid. Customer awareness of and interest in buying EVs has never been higher (if all the EV-themed ads during this year’s Super Bowl are any indication). Are utilities prepared to keep up with the demand?
Since conducting the E Source 2020 Electric Vehicle Residential Customer Survey, the number of registered EVs in the US has increased almost 300%, according to the US Department of Energy. There are not only more EVs on the road than just a few years ago but are also more residential customers considering EVs.
According to the E Source US Residential Customer Insights Center, 31% of respondents were considering an EV in 2022, a notable increase from the 24% who were considering an EV in 2017 (figure 1).
Figure 1: Stage of EV purchase, 2017 versus 2022
It’s time to get a better understanding of the residential EV market and how it’s evolving. In addition to the changes we’re seeing in customer behaviors and opinions, the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act—also known as President Joe Biden’s infrastructure bill—passed in late 2021. It provides substantial funding for states to develop a nationwide network of EV charging infrastructure.
In his 2023 State of the Union Address, Biden once again mentioned the EV tax credits and EV charging infrastructure proposed in the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA). The IRA was passed in 2022 and proposed $369 billion for clean energy and climate programs, including consumer tax credits for qualified individuals to receive up to $7,500 off the purchase of a new EV or $4,000 off a used EV. These tax credits will likely boost the adoption of EVs in the consumer market. Utilities are likely to see a substantial impact on demand and will need to be prepared to support customers who are transitioning to efficient, electrified technologies.
There are still barriers utilities must address for successful EV adoption
More customers are considering purchasing EVs, but there are still many concerns utilities should be addressing to encourage EV adoption and position themselves as a trusted source of information on EVs.
In the 2020 Electric Vehicle Residential Customer Survey, we asked respondents who are considering EVs what was preventing them from purchasing or leasing EVs. Besides cost, which was the top barrier, respondents reported lack of familiarity and concerns about range and charging as some of their top barriers (figure 2).
Figure 2: Top perceived barriers to EV purchase
These concerns can boil down to one common goal for utilities: ensuring customers have accurate information about EVs and charging, EV tax credits, and the affordability of operating and maintaining an EV. We expect to see similar concerns in the coming year when we survey customers again in the 2023 Electric Vehicle Residential Customer Survey.
The Electric Vehicle Residential Customer Survey is designed to help utilities better understand customers habits, preferences, and intentions and how to communicate with customers about EVs and the necessary infrastructure to power them. For 2023, we’ve added new questions that will give us more insight on customers’ purchase behavior and on use cases for different vehicle types.
For more information on how the IRA can affect utilities, see our blog post What does the Inflation Reduction Act mean for utilities? And check out our report How utilities can support EV charging infrastructure through the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act.