Active Managed EV Charging Can Double EV Hosting Capacity - CleanTechnica

The article from CleanTechnica highlights the significant benefits of active managed electric vehicle (EV) charging in enhancing the capacity of electrical distribution grids to support EVs. Unlike passive charging strategies, active managed charging uses real-time control algorithms and telematics to optimize when and how EVs charge. This approach can reduce peak demand by up to 50% by smoothing out the load and preventing simultaneous charging surges, known as the “snapback” effect, which commonly occurs with static time-of-use (TOU) rates. Trials showed that active management lowered aggregate peak loads by 55% compared to passive TOU strategies. A key takeaway is that active managed charging can effectively double the EV hosting capacity of distribution systems, meaning more EVs can be supported without costly infrastructure upgrades. The study evaluated two variations of EnergyHub’s active managed charging solutions—TOU + Load Limits and Wholesale + Load Limits—which shift charging to off-peak times while respecting load limits at multiple grid levels, from primary feeders down