Big News for Oakville & Burlington Electric Vehicle Owners
Purchasers of electric vehicles (EVs) do so as part of a broader commitment to the environment and contributing to a cleaner, greener community for the benefit of future generations. It’s a philosophy that complements the Provincial Government’s Climate Change Strategy of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by encouraging a shift to low- and zero-emission vehicles. The growth of EVs will play a vital role in helping Ontario achieve its 2050 greenhouse gas reduction target of 80% below 1990 levels.
The greatest challenge facing electricity utilities is the increased energy demand and the potential strain this will put on local distribution networks. With this in mind, Burlington Electricity Services (BESI) and Oakville Hydro have launched a joint EV charging pilot program for homeowners to help pave the way for the broad scale adoption of electric vehicles. The pilot will acquire vital key learnings on homeowner interaction with EVs and load on the electricity grid.
“It’s essential for us to prepare and get out ahead of the curve so we can better understand the electricity demand and consumption patterns that will occur as a result of residential EV charging,” says Mike Brown, Chief Operating Officer, Oakville Hydro. “If loads are added to the distribution system indiscriminately, much of the charging load could fall across the existing peak demand period, stressing current distribution assets.”
The project’s EV charging stations work in tandem with advanced ‘behind-the-meter’ technology to automate the interaction between electric vehicles and the electricity grid. Participants will benefit by having their vehicles charged at the optimal time of day, based on usage, community electricity demand and electricity prices. Vehicle owners will be encouraged to select their preferred minimum state of charge so that although charging is managed, their vehicle is always ready for their use.
“It is clear that we must create business solutions that work for various types of residential customers – not only single detached homes, but also the needs for multi-residential buildings,” explains Dan Guatto, Chief Operating Officer, Burlington Hydro Inc. “That’s why, in addition to our homeowner residential pilot project, we are in discussions with developers of new condo buildings and working through how we can meet the EV charging needs of condo suite owners.”
Other project partners include: AddENERGIE, FleetCarma, CrossChasm, and Plug’n Drive.
For more information on the residential EV charging station pilot, visit: futuregrid.ca
