Infrastructure Considerations for Electric Vehicles

The potential benefits of electric vehicles (EVs) have prompted legislation mandating EV use in areas with air quality problems. For example, California's legislation requires automakers to begin selling EVs in the state in 1998. In response, the utility industry is working to establish a national recharging infrastructure to provide the elements necessary to make EV use safe and convenient. Infrastructure components include connecting standards and hardware, convenient residential and public charging stations, safety standards and procedures, utility load management controls, and educational material. This paper discusses infrastructure issues and describes the work being conducted under the Electric Power Research Institute's (EPRI's) research program.