25 Jun What We’re Learning—June 2021
Behind-the-Meter Batteries, Global EV Market Trends, and the New Ford F-150 Lighting
At D+R, we’re always learning more about the technology, markets, and policies affecting building and transformation electrification. This month we’re excited to kick off our “What We’re Learning” series— a recurring feature that highlights news, research, and other media that taught us something, and hopefully helps our readers learn something too. Here’s what we learned this month about electric vehicles:
Green Mountain Power and Tesla break grid barriers with behind-the-meter batteries
With the rise in distributed energy resources (DERs), Green Mountain Power is exploring how Tesla Powerwall batteries can provide “frequency regulation service” to grid operators. Transmitted via broadband internet, these fast-response grid power options can help with balancing the grid. While it may be just a first step, Green Mountain power is the first to aggregate home batteries for frequency regulation in U.S. markets at commercial scale, indicating there is much more to be explored in the frequency regulation market.
Source: Canary Media
Today’s electric vehicle market: Slow growth in U.S., faster in China, Europe
In a recent study, Pew Research Center explored the growth of the U.S. EV market, including EV sales and charging network development. While the COVID-19 pandemic may have contributed to fewer EV sales in 2020, the country’s charging network continues to grow. Looking at the state level, California’s many years of EV rebates and incentives has resulted in the state leading with 12 EV registrations per 1,000 people (as of 2018). They also lead in EV charging stations, with about a third (30.8%) of the 42,000 public EV charging stations in the country, a number that is projected to grow to between 800,000 and 1.7 million by the end of the decade pending policy.
Source: Pew Research
A Review of the New Electric Ford F-150 Lightning
This video by YouTuber Marques Brownlee includes a comprehensive review of Ford’s new F-150 Lighting, the company’s first all-electric truck set for release in 2022. As the most popular vehicle in the U.S., the Ford F-150 will play a crucial role in transitioning rural America to EVs. With a number of exciting features, such as a front trunk and bi-directional power (the ability to power your house during a power outage!), the release targets a new audience, one that is already hopping onboard as evident by the 100,000+ Lightning pre-orders.
Source: Marques Brownlee, YouTube
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