EVs and the Grid Conference

Young woman charging electric car — Image by © Nancy Honey/cultura/Corbis

Whenever I attend an energy conference, I introduce myself to dozens of strangers, never knowing what experience I’m about to encounter.  Though very few of these handshakes turn into relationships that last longer than a short one-time conversation, virtually every one leads to a discussion in which I learn something interesting. 

Yesterday, I met a guy from the part of the California state government that deals with the labeling of EV charging stations.  “All transactions in which energy is sold to a consumer needs to be clearly, fairly and accurately labeled,” he explained.

“I don’t challenge that,” I replied, “but I would think this is totally cut and dried.  Gasoline has a price and an octane rating.  Here, you’re selling electricity that’s dispensed at X volts for $Y per kWh.  Isn’t it just that simple?”

His answer (“no”) opened my eyes to an interesting challenge; EV charging stations are normally places the cars’ owners want to park.  Unlike gas stations, there is an incentive to stay there after the charging is completed; no one need to tell you to get back on the road when your gas tank is full, but that’s not the case here.  From a labeling perspective, that means that the transaction needs to spell out exactly what portion of the price is electricity, and what portion is for parking.

I’ll never see that guy again, but, as usual, I was grateful to have had the encounter.