Search

Electric vehicles have the potential to replace traditional automobiles as the primary form of transportation. Despite major improvements in technology and an expanding focus on climate change making electric vehicles more practical than ever before, consumers are still wary of adopting them for legitimate reasons such as costs and charging infrastructure. Therefore, a concerted effort must be made to persuade individuals and companies to adopt this beneficial technology to reduce the carbon footprint and catalyze the construction of important charging infrastructure. Though there are a multitude of benefits to adopting electric vehicles, there will be some negative effects on the power grid as a result of consumers adopting this new technology. To maintain and improve grid reliability, it is crucial to explore solutions to mitigate the potential effects of electric vehicles on the grid before widespread adoption occurs. Many suggested programs require customers to behave in a certain way, such as shifting their demand to off-peak times, or purchase batteries or chargers with specific capabilities. However, convincing consumers to participate in these programs is incredibly difficult, and programs such as time-of-use scheduling may only provide marginal improvements in grid conditions, like time-of-use programs. In this thesis, the benefits of electric vehicle adoption in terms of carbon reduction are observed to determine the benefit to individuals and fleet managers looking to reduce carbon emissions. Then, the effects of electric vehicles on a residential grid are explored and the impacts of time-of-use programs are analyzed. Finally, the role of the consumer in the transformation of the energy and transportation sectors is discussed with an emphasis on potential programs and incentives to persuade consumers to adopt electric vehicles and then aid in mitigating the effects of their charging systems.