Yes, the bulk charging will be overnight, basically smoothing out grid demand, which has always been an issue. Our regional electricity board is currently carrying out a survey into the impact of EVs on grid demand and I got a free charger as part of that survey. The charger they supplied is smart enough to adjust its output to local grid capacity, with a peak of 8 kW on single phase. It monitors my usage and adjusts output accordingly. I don't even notice when it reduces power, which it only does as a simulation, not because the demand is currently that high. We have a standard 100A domestic supply with no upgrade required to accommodate EV charging. I wake up every morning with a 200 mile range, which is fine. The odd time I need more range I just use the SC network as required. Doesn't happen very often, but will make more use of that when we start going out on summer weekend trips.johnd wrote: ↑Thu May 03, 2018 12:22 pmBut why do you think infrastructure is a problem? I don't see why the grid infrastructure is a major issue, especially if you assume that most charging will happen overnight - the existing grid has to be able to cope with daytime peaks which are substantially higher than demand in the early hours.
Locally, yes, there will need to be some coordination with the supply network and might constrain where it's cost-effective to locate them, but putting in a rapid charger is really no different to supplying eg a smallish block of flats.
Obviously many people are unable to home charge and that is certainly a problem to be solved. Work place charging is one viable option for some people and new builds will begin to provide home charging solutions. I can imagine a future where allocated parking spaces will have built-in chargers, the power required is nothing special for this. It's not going to happen overnight with millions of EVs suddenly replacing every vehicle on the road. The pace that the mainstream industry is moving it will take decades for the change.