This article will show you how California's electric vehicle costs compare to other energy sources. It includes information on the cost of supporting electric automobiles (EVs) as well as reliability of grid. It also discusses the state's clean energy goals. You'll also learn about the benefits and drawbacks of EVs as well as ways to improve the grid.
California's clean energy goals
California's clean energy goals are aimed at reducing our dependence on fossil fuels. Despite all our clean energy goals the state still uses fossil energy to meet its energy requirements. That's because our state ranks seventh in oil production and fourteenth in natural gas production. We would be able to reach our goal of 100% renewable energy by 2045 if we adopt the state's clean-energy goals.
California still has a lot of work to do before it can meet these goals. However, there are a few steps that are helping us get there. One of these steps is to increase the use of distributed, renewable energy sources. California has made significant investments in renewable energy resources and solar energy in recent years. The state plans to generate half of its power from renewable sources by 2025. Legislators are working on legislation to accelerate the clean energy transition. Currently, there is more than 25 bills pending at the state legislative level.
Growing reliance upon renewable resources
California is making significant progress in increasing its renewable energy use, especially solar energy and wind power. Last year, renewable energy generated 19.8 percent of the state's total electric power. This number is expected to increase to 35% by 2030. This growth will be mostly from solar and winds energy. Non-hydro sources, however, have grown from just 1 percent to 12.5 per cent in 2005 to 12.5 per cent by 2020. However, the demand for electricity remains relatively stable. In recent years, however, renewable fuels have seen a significant increase in use in transport, rising from just 1% in 2005 to almost double the rate last year.
California's Renewables Portfolio Standard, or RPS, was created to encourage renewable energy. This law requires electricity providers buy renewable energy to supply their electricity needs. This law requires utilities to purchase renewable energy for at least 20% of their electricity needs by 2022. They also have to increase their renewable share each year by 1%.
Supporting EVs - Costs
California's air resources authority plans to spend $95million on various EV programmes by 2019. The money comes from a portion from registration fees, and proceeds from cap & trade programs. The program is expected offer rebates to EV-owners. However, if a EV is something you're considering purchasing, you should think about the costs involved.
California's major utilities offer two rates for EV charging. The first rate only applies to electricity consumed by EVs. The second rate applies to all of a home's electricity use.
Reliability of the grid
California's grid reliability problem has been a major concern for many years. California's dependence on outside power is about 20-30 percent of its electricity. This makes its grid highly vulnerable to weather and political changes. In recent months, the electricity grid has been subject to unprecedented demand from electric cars and increased energy consumption.
The state is taking steps to improve grid reliability. For example, the Board of Governors of the California Independent System Operator recently approved the extension of reliability must-run contracts with four power plants. These agreements will ensure that power stations will continue to operate for the entire duration of the agreements which will run until 2023.