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United States electrical power need from EVs jumps to new highs in early 2024: Maguire

United States electrical power usage from electric automobiles (EVs) over the first two months of 2024 jumped by over 50% from the same months in 2023 as EVs continue to penetrate the U.S. car market and effect electricity streams.

Total electrical power usage by EVs through February 2024 was 1.58 million megawatt hours (MWh), compared to 1.04 million MWh during the exact same period in 2023, according to the U.S. Energy Details Administration (EIA).

That 52% increase in EV electrical power usage from early 2023 went beyond the 40% growth rate posted in 2023 from January-February 2022, and shows that the effect from rapidly broadening EV sales continues to increase in electrical power markets.

EVs represented 16% of all light-duty automobile sales in the U.S. in 2023, when collective electrical energy use by EVs surpassed electrical energy demand by U.S. railways for the very first time, according to the EIA's latest Electric Power Regular monthly report.

ANNUAL PATTERN

Total electricity usage by EVs in 2023 was 7.6 million MWh, up 45% from 2022's total.

The growth lagged the record 49.2% development in EV electrical power need posted in 2022, but was the second largest annual growth rate on record and brings the five-year average yearly development rate for EV electrical power demand to 37.2%.

The top state for EV electrical power intake was California, the most populated U.S. state, where EV's consumed 2.58 million MWh of electrical energy and represented simply under 34% of total national EV electricity need.

That share was below 35.2% in 2022, indicating that EV electrical energy demand grew much faster in other states last year.

Florida (458,767 MWh), Texas (417,027 MWh), New York City ( 337,367 MWh) and Washington (308,724 MWh) round out the top 5 states for EV electricity need in 2023.

In regards to car type, battery electrical vehicles accounted for almost 72% of overall EV electrical energy usage, while plug-in hybrids accounted for 28.3%.

STATE STANDOUTS

Beyond the leading 5 electricity-consuming states for EVs, 13 other states consumed 100,000 MWh or more electrical power for EV charging in 2023.

These states cover a wide geographic period from Maryland to Illinois and from North Carolina to New Jersey, and indicate quick uptake of EVs in cars and truck fleets throughout the nation.

The state with the biggest year-on-year growth in electrical power need for EV charging was Oklahoma, which posted a. 74% growth in EV electrical power use in 2015, to 73,058 MWh.

A quick growth in the installation of public chargers,. plus local government incentives for home-based charging. equipment, assisted speed up EV uptake in Oklahoma.

The states with the most affordable electricity demand for EVs last. year were North Dakota, Wyoming and South Dakota, which have the. least expensive per capita ownership rates of EVs in the nation,. according to the U.S. Department of Energy.

Limited public charging infrastructure and issues about. the impact of extreme winter season weather condition on battery life are a few of. the elements keeping EV growth in check in those states.

However, more charging stations are planned throughout the. U.S. in 2024 and beyond, while EVs with battery series of 300. miles or more are ending up being common in manufacturer offerings.

In addition, EV costs are under pressure due to high dealer. stocks, so the U.S. vehicle fleet looks set to become. increasingly energized going forward.

That in turn will fuel even greater demand for electricity. in your home and from public charging ports, and may position extra. stress on utilities to make sure round-the-clock electrical power. schedule.

<< The opinions expressed here are those of the author, a. columnist .>

(source: Reuters)