Energy & Cost Impacts: EVSE (DC)

Electric Vehicle Supply Equipment (EVSE) is a key enabler of electrification and decarbonization for the transportation sector. EVSE represents the physical infrastructure necessary for charging electric vehicles to support EV owners to charge their vehicles conveniently. This is needed to facilitate a higher and faster conversion rate from internal-combustion engine passenger vehicles to electric vehicles to meet the state decarbonization goals.

Adding EV chargers will increase the electricity demand of the site, and depending on the vehicle charging pattern, which may increase the site’s peak demand and potentially put additional stress on the grid at the local distribution level. However, when managed appropriately, the site can shift its peak demand to the times when onsite renewable generation is abundant, if applicable, or when the electricity price is low by influencing users’ charging behaviors. The capability of participating in demand response (DR) programs also allows EVSE to contribute to relieving grid stress when the electrical demand on the grid is peaking.

Additionally, EVSEs do experience minor energy losses during operation due to electrical architecture and system functionalities that support charging. These include powering onboard displays, maintaining network connectivity, and conversion of AC to DC power (for DC chargers). Note that AC charging has additional energy losses in the vehicles onboard charger for conversion of AC to DC power, which is specific to the vehicle and not the charger. Specific product testing results for AC and DC chargers include detailed characterization of energy losses based on charging mode.