Due to the severe temperatures this holiday weekend, energy officials in California, where the sale of new, gasoline-powered automobiles is prohibited beginning in 13 years, are requesting that residents refrain from charging their electric vehicles during peak hours.
Rising temperatures starting on Wednesday and continuing through the Labor Day weekend will probably put a strain on the grid to the point where customers should expect energy shortages and should be expected to help with energy conservation, according to a “heat bulletin” that the operators of California’s electric grid sent to customers throughout the state.
In order to guarantee that all generators and transmission lines are in working order, the California Independent System Operator claimed it had issued an order prohibiting maintenance activities from August 31 through September 6.
The National Weather Service reports that a “prolonged and record heat wave” is currently affecting the western United States.
The American Public Power Association said, asking residents to limit energy usage between 4 p.m. and 9 p.m, saying that “The top three conservation actions are to set thermostats to 78 degrees or higher, avoid using large appliances and charging electric vehicles, and turn off unnecessary lights.”
The best ways to conserve energy, it said, are to switch off superfluous lights and raise temperatures to 78 degrees or higher to use air conditioners less frequently.
According to Cornell University’s College of Engineering:
“Today, most people charge their electric cars when they come home in the evening — when electricity demand is typically at its peak, If left unmanaged, the power demanded from many electric vehicles charging simultaneously in the evening will amplify existing peak loads, potentially outstripping the grid’s current capacity to meet demand.”
The regulations passed by the California Air Resources Board last week say that by the year 2035, the state will only allow automakers to sell vehicles that are powered by electricity or hydrogen, albeit some of these vehicles may be plug-in hybrids that combine the use of gas and batteries. Used gas-powered vehicles will still be available for purchase, and certain plug-in hybrid vehicles will still be offered by automakers.
Officials in Virginia, on the other hand, have condemned the state’s regulations which were approved last year when Democrats controlled the General Assembly— and are working to get them repealed that the legislatures of Washington, Virginia, and Massachusetts earlier passed laws bringing their states into compliance with the criteria imposed by the California Air Resources Board.
Governor Glenn Youngkin (R-VA), said:
“In an effort to turn Virginia into California, liberal politicians who previously ran our government sold Virginia out by subjecting Virginia drivers to California vehicle laws. Now, under that pact, Virginians will be forced to adopt the California law that prohibits the sale of gas and diesel-fueled vehicles. I am already at work to prevent this ridiculous edict from being forced on Virginians. California’s out of touch laws have no place in our Commonwealth.”
With more than 1.1 million registered vehicles, California already boasts the largest electric vehicle market in the country. That makes up 43% of the plug-in cars in the country.
Though the state estimates it will need 1.2 million public charging stations by 2030, there are currently only 80,000 of them scattered throughout the state.
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Sources: Dailywire, Newsnationnow, Nypost