With EV growth, network analytics are key to grid maintenance, says VisNet

With nearly half (45%) of respondents planning to purchase an electric vehicle (EV) or other electric transport in the next five years, traditional, reactive approaches to grid management are no longer effective.

The surge in adoption of EVs is expected to dramatically increase electricity demand, particularly at the low voltage distribution level where most charging occurs. With the electrification of transport in full swing, distribution network operators (DNOs) are setting their eyes on the impacts and developing proactive maintenance strategies: a necessity to service the new demand.

Commenting on the issue, Ana Duran, product manager at VisNet from EA Technology, a leading provider of technology solutions supporting the energy transition, said: ‘EVs and battery powered transport pose a unique challenge to DNOs. One in eight consumers currently own an EV, with over a fifth (22%) planning to purchase one in the next five years, according to the VisAbility of Consumer Energy report.

‘Of course, all of these new vehicles need charging, and on average, drivers charge their EVs 19 times per month, and their electric bike or electric scooter batteries 15 times per month – adding a significant and recurring load to the grid. 

‘The report also indicates that they are more likely to be charging their EVs, bikes and scooter batteries without using solar energy, further compounding the impact.’

But there is a ray of light for DNOs anticipating an influx of demand as EV adoption increases. Ana continued, ‘More encouraging for network operators is that drivers tend to charge their battery powered transport during off peak hours, helping to reduce strain on electricity networks. 

‘EVs are most often charged between approximately 11 pm and 8 am (22%), whilst owners of electric bikes and scooters are most often charged between 12 pm and 5 pm (23% in both instances) – avoiding the typical morning and evening spikes in power usage.  

‘More could be done, however, and high percentages of EV (97%), electric bike (95%) and electric scooter (96%) owners could all be incentivised to reduce their energy consumption during peak times.’ 

All of these figures paint a complicated picture for network operators globally, and with EV ownership and charging behaviour evolving quickly, they are being urged to adopt smarter, more proactive strategies to maintain grid resilience and support the transition to net zero.

Ana added, ‘Traditional, reactive approaches to grid management will not be sufficient in the face of growing EV demand. Instead, operators must adopt real time data monitoring, predictive modelling, and localised network insights to understand where EV charging is occurring and how it impacts capacity. 

‘For example, network owners and operators can use high resolution, feeder level visibility of EV charging patterns to avoid unnecessary and costly blanket infrastructure upgrades.

‘By combining behavioural data with network analytics, operators can identify where constraints are likely to emerge and deploy measures such as flexibility incentives or smart charging ahead of large scale reinforcement.’

Ana concluded, ‘As EV adoption accelerates, electrical grids around the world face a pivotal moment. With the right data, tools, and strategies EVs can be integrated efficiently, supporting decarbonisation without compromising reliability. Without them, the risk of increased strain, higher costs, and reduced resilience grows significantly.’