Are We Ready for Electric Cars?

Abstract

Cars with electric drive are becoming more fashionable. More and more of them appear on the roads, especially in the centres of big cities. However, electric cars must be charged, preferably from high-power energy sources. In domestic environment, (if somebody owns a house) power available is usually of 10-16 kW. Users have to increase the level of household power or charge the car for several hours, because car charger is not the only home energy receiver. Some of the users are installing energy storage systems solution based on energy storage systems but this require additional expenses for batteries, inverter, circuit breakers and additional equipment. Other disadvantages of such solution are that they are mostly dedicated for stand-alone houses. What could be done by electric cars owners who live on the 10th floor in a block of flats? What would happen if everyone in the same time decided to buy an electric car? What will happen if everyone at the same time charges his or her cars? Do we have an adequate supply of energy potential? On the other hand, do we need to build new energy power plants? Will the electric grid cope with such a load or will have to build new transmission lines, transformer stations, and charging stations?