{"id":683696,"date":"2025-08-07T03:50:21","date_gmt":"2025-08-07T00:50:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/clean-energy-is-here-but-getting-it-to-electric-vehicles-is-not\/"},"modified":"2025-08-07T03:50:21","modified_gmt":"2025-08-07T00:50:21","slug":"clean-energy-is-here-but-getting-it-to-electric-vehicles-is-not","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/clean-energy-is-here-but-getting-it-to-electric-vehicles-is-not\/","title":{"rendered":"Clean energy is here, but getting it to electric vehicles is not"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_85 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-custom ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Table of Contents<\/p>\n<label for=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-6a3e7380964a4\" class=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-label\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #dd3333;color:#dd3333\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #dd3333;color:#dd3333\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/label><input type=\"checkbox\"  id=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-6a3e7380964a4\" checked aria-label=\"Toggle\" \/><nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/clean-energy-is-here-but-getting-it-to-electric-vehicles-is-not\/#The_grid_gets_in_the_way\" >The grid gets in the way<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/clean-energy-is-here-but-getting-it-to-electric-vehicles-is-not\/#Smart_targeted_upgrades\" >Smart, targeted upgrades<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"article-gallery lightGallery\">\n<div data-thumb=\"https:\/\/scx1.b-cdn.net\/csz\/news\/tmb\/2025\/clean-energy-is-here-g.jpg\" data-src=\"https:\/\/scx2.b-cdn.net\/gfx\/news\/hires\/2025\/clean-energy-is-here-g.jpg\" data-sub-html=\"Overview of the U.S. generation sources, power grid, and vehicle emissions in 2018. &lt;b&gt;a&lt;\/b&gt; Geographical distribution of generation units color-coded according to the types of primary energy source across all three interconnections of the U.S. power system (including extensions into southern\u00a0Canada). &lt;b&gt;b&lt;\/b&gt; Scatter plots (left axes) and histograms (right axes) of the capacity of the generation units versus emission rates, where the color code is the same as in (&lt;b&gt;a&lt;\/b&gt;). The dashed line marks the average emission rate, which is 364, 475, and 547 t per GWh for the Western, Texas, and Eastern interconnections, respectively. &lt;b&gt;c&lt;\/b&gt; Contiguous U.S. power grid, represented as a complex multilayer network of power lines operating at different voltage levels. &lt;b&gt;d&lt;\/b&gt; County-level distribution of CO&lt;sub&gt;2&lt;\/sub&gt; emissions from motor vehicles, estimated from the state-wise fuel consumption reported in the Highway Statistics. This estimation follows from distributing state-level emissions in proportion to the population of each county. &lt;i&gt;Nature Communications&lt;\/i&gt; (2025). DOI: 10.1038\/s41467-025-61976-8\">\n<figure class=\"article-img\">\n            <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/scx1.b-cdn.net\/csz\/news\/800a\/2025\/clean-energy-is-here-g.jpg\" alt=\"Clean energy is here. Getting it to EVs isn\u2019t\" title=\"Overview of the U.S. generation sources, power grid, and vehicle emissions in 2018. a Geographical distribution of generation units color-coded according to the types of primary energy source across all three interconnections of the U.S. power system (including extensions into southern\u00a0Canada). b Scatter plots (left axes) and histograms (right axes) of the capacity of the generation units versus emission rates, where the color code is the same as in (a). The dashed line marks the average emission rate, which is 364, 475, and 547 t per GWh for the Western, Texas, and Eastern interconnections, respectively. c Contiguous U.S. power grid, represented as a complex multilayer network of power lines operating at different voltage levels. d County-level distribution of CO2 emissions from motor vehicles, estimated from the state-wise fuel consumption reported in the Highway Statistics. This estimation follows from distributing state-level emissions in proportion to the population of each county. Nature Communications (2025). DOI: 10.1038\/s41467-025-61976-8\" width=\"800\" height=\"489\"\/><figcaption class=\"text-darken text-low-up text-truncate-js text-truncate mt-3\">\n                Overview of the U.S. generation sources, power grid, and vehicle emissions in 2018. <b>a<\/b> Geographical distribution of generation units color-coded according to the types of primary energy source across all three interconnections of the U.S. power system (including extensions into southern\u00a0Canada). <b>b<\/b> Scatter plots (left axes) and histograms (right axes) of the capacity of the generation units versus emission rates, where the color code is the same as in (<b>a<\/b>). The dashed line marks the average emission rate, which is 364, 475, and 547 t per GWh for the Western, Texas, and Eastern interconnections, respectively. <b>c<\/b> Contiguous U.S. power grid, represented as a complex multilayer network of power lines operating at different voltage levels. <b>d<\/b> County-level distribution of CO<sub>2<\/sub> emissions from motor vehicles, estimated from the state-wise fuel consumption reported in the Highway Statistics. This estimation follows from distributing state-level emissions in proportion to the population of each county. <i>Nature Communications<\/i> (2025). DOI: 10.1038\/s41467-025-61976-8<br \/>\n            <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>Even if enough renewable energy is available, simply switching from gas-powered cars to electric vehicles (EVs) won&#8217;t be enough to fight climate change\u2014unless the U.S. also upgrades its transmission grid, a new Northwestern University study finds.<\/p>\n<p>If every gas-powered vehicle in the U.S. were replaced by an EV, transmission constraints would prevent the cleanest available electricity from reaching many charging locations. This &#8220;grid congestion&#8221; would force greater reliance on nearby fossil fuel power plants, undercutting the emissions benefits of electrification.<\/p>\n<p>After identifying the issue, the study also recommends a modest set of targeted transmission grid upgrades to alleviate congestion and unlock the full emissions-reduction potential of EV adoption.<\/p>\n<p>The study is <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nature.com\/articles\/s41467-025-61976-8\" target=\"_blank\">published<\/a> in the journal <i>Nature Communications<\/i>.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;Even if the U.S. fully adopts EVs and generates enough renewable electricity to charge them, it still won&#8217;t be enough,&#8221; said Northwestern&#8217;s Adilson Motter, who led the study. &#8220;We found the limiting factor for cars to be powered by clean energy has less to do with the availability of renewable energy and more to do with the ability to transmit that energy from generation sites to where it&#8217;s needed. The power lines are congested, and that leads to congestion-induced CO<sub>2<\/sub> emissions.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>An expert on complex systems, Motter is the Charles E. and Emma H. Morrison Professor of Physics at Northwestern&#8217;s Weinberg College of Arts and <a href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/category\/sciencee\/\" data-internallinksmanager029f6b8e52c=\"5\" title=\"Science\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Science<\/a>s and the director of the Center for Network Dynamics. Motter conducted the research with Chao Duan, a former Research Assistant Professor at Northwestern.<\/p>\n<p>                                                                                                        <!-- TechX - News - In-article --><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"The_grid_gets_in_the_way\"><\/span>The grid gets in the way<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Like a highway system, the power grid is a vast infrastructure that transmits electricity across the U.S. After being generated at plants, electricity <a href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/category\/trip-and-travel\/\" data-internallinksmanager029f6b8e52c=\"10\" title=\"Trip &amp; Travel\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">travel<\/a>s long distances through high-voltage transmission lines that span entire states and regions. It then reaches substations, where its voltage is reduced. Power then flows through distribution lines to homes, businesses and EV charging stations.<\/p>\n<div class=\"article-gallery lightGallery\">\n<div data-thumb=\"https:\/\/scx1.b-cdn.net\/csz\/news\/tmb\/2025\/clean-energy-is-here-b.jpg\" data-src=\"https:\/\/scx2.b-cdn.net\/gfx\/news\/hires\/2025\/clean-energy-is-here-b.jpg\" data-sub-html=\"Optimal U.S. grid upgrading relative to the 2018 scenario. &lt;b&gt;a&lt;\/b&gt; Minimal capacity upgrading of the U.S. transmission grid to eliminate congestion-induced CO&lt;sub&gt;2&lt;\/sub&gt; emissions assuming an EV integration of 100%. Blue marks upgraded transmission lines, with the color gradient indicating the capacity increase as a percentage of the existing capacity. The other transmission lines (red) require no upgrading. The final capacity of each line is coded by the width of the line. &lt;b&gt;b&lt;\/b&gt; Congestion-induced CO&lt;sub&gt;2&lt;\/sub&gt; emissions in the U.S. as a function of the transmission capacity upgrade measured as a percentage of the existing capacity. In both panels, we only consider the transmission lines with voltage levels above 200\u2009kV. Credit: &lt;i&gt;Nature Communications&lt;\/i&gt; (2025). DOI: 10.1038\/s41467-025-61976-8\">\n<figure class=\"article-img text-center\">\n            <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/scx1.b-cdn.net\/csz\/news\/800a\/2025\/clean-energy-is-here-b.jpg\" alt=\"Clean energy is here, but getting it to electric vehicles is not\" title=\"Optimal U.S. grid upgrading relative to the 2018 scenario. a Minimal capacity upgrading of the U.S. transmission grid to eliminate congestion-induced CO2 emissions assuming an EV integration of 100%. Blue marks upgraded transmission lines, with the color gradient indicating the capacity increase as a percentage of the existing capacity. The other transmission lines (red) require no upgrading. The final capacity of each line is coded by the width of the line. b Congestion-induced CO2 emissions in the U.S. as a function of the transmission capacity upgrade measured as a percentage of the existing capacity. In both panels, we only consider the transmission lines with voltage levels above 200\u2009kV. Credit: Nature Communications (2025). DOI: 10.1038\/s41467-025-61976-8\"\/><figcaption class=\"text-left text-darken text-truncate text-low-up mt-3\">\n                Optimal U.S. grid upgrading relative to the 2018 scenario. <b>a<\/b> Minimal capacity upgrading of the U.S. transmission grid to eliminate congestion-induced CO<sub>2<\/sub> emissions assuming an EV integration of 100%. Blue marks upgraded transmission lines, with the color gradient indicating the capacity increase as a percentage of the existing capacity. The other transmission lines (red) require no upgrading. The final capacity of each line is coded by the width of the line. <b>b<\/b> Congestion-induced CO<sub>2<\/sub> emissions in the U.S. as a function of the transmission capacity upgrade measured as a percentage of the existing capacity. In both panels, we only consider the transmission lines with voltage levels above 200\u2009kV. Credit: <i>Nature Communications<\/i> (2025). DOI: 10.1038\/s41467-025-61976-8<br \/>\n            <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>To analyze electricity&#8217;s journey through power lines, the researchers combined data on vehicle usage and power grid infrastructure. Using advanced computer models, the team simulated the flow of electricity across the U.S. under varying levels of vehicle electrification and renewable energy generation.<\/p>\n<p>In every scenario with high EV adoption, grid congestion emerged as a critical bottleneck.<\/p>\n<p>As EV adoption increases, so does electricity demand, especially in urban areas. But renewable energy sources like wind and solar are typically located far from cities, such as on rural wind farms or solar arrays in the desert. While clean energy is available, transmission capacity is often too limited to deliver it where it is needed, including EV charging stations. As a result, the grid draws electricity from closer\u2014but more polluting\u2014power plants that generate electricity by burning coal, oil and gas.<\/p>\n<p>In the study&#8217;s most ambitious simulation, scientists converted the entire U.S. vehicle fleet to electric. If the grid had adequate transmission capacity, this shift could eliminate nearly all vehicle-related CO<sub>2<\/sub> emissions once renewable energy matches nonrenewable energy generation. But, with current grid constraints, one-third of those potential emissions savings would be lost.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;The charging schedule of EVs can be optimized to align with intermittent renewable generation,&#8221; Motter said. &#8220;But even with smart charging, efficient use of clean energy still depends on having enough transmission capacity to deliver it where it&#8217;s needed.&#8221;<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Smart_targeted_upgrades\"><\/span>Smart, targeted upgrades<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>To address this bottleneck, the researchers calculated how much additional transmission capacity would be needed. They found that increasing the existing grid&#8217;s transmission capacity by as little as 3 to 13% would significantly reduce congestion. This could involve building new high-voltage lines or expanding existing ones\u2014enabling more clean power from remote wind and solar farms to reach the cities and suburbs where EV charging demand is highest.<\/p>\n<p>Motter stresses that the entire grid does not need to be rebuilt. Instead, he recommends targeted upgrades in areas where congestion is most likely to occur. The U.S. grid is divided into three largely independent regions\u2014Eastern, Western and Texas\u2014with limited ability to transfer power among them. Improved connections and coordination among regions would help clean energy reach the areas that need it most.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;Power grids began as local networks, where consumption was close to generation,&#8221; Motter said. &#8220;Over time, they evolved into nationwide\u2014even continent-wide\u2014systems. It was a gradual growth process built on existing infrastructure. No one wants to redesign it from scratch, but we do need targeted upgrades that reflect the large-scale reach of today&#8217;s grid.&#8221;<\/p>\n<div class=\"article-main__more p-4\">\n<p><strong>More information:<\/strong><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tChao Duan et al, Grid congestion stymies climate benefit from U.S. vehicle electrification, <i>Nature Communications<\/i> (2025). <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" data-doi=\"1\" href=\"https:\/\/dx.doi.org\/10.1038\/s41467-025-61976-8\" target=\"_blank\">DOI: 10.1038\/s41467-025-61976-8<\/a><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"d-inline-block text-medium my-4\">\n                                                Provided by<br \/>\n                                                                                                    Northwestern University<br \/>\n                                                    \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"icon_open\" href=\"http:\/\/www.northwestern.edu\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow\"><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<use href=\"https:\/\/techx.b-cdn.net\/tmpl\/v2\/img\/svg\/sprite.svg#icon_open\" x=\"0\" y=\"0\"\/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/svg><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a><\/p><\/div>\n<p>                                        <!-- print only --><\/p>\n<div class=\"d-none d-print-block\">\n<p>\n                                                <strong>Citation<\/strong>:<br \/>\n                                                Clean energy is here, but getting it to electric vehicles is not (2025, August 6)<br \/>\n                                                retrieved 6 August 2025<br \/>\n                                                from https:\/\/techxplore.com\/<a href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/category\/news\/\" data-internallinksmanager029f6b8e52c=\"2\" title=\"News\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">news<\/a>\/2025-08-energy-electric-vehicles.html\n                                            <\/p>\n<p>\n                                            This document is subject to copyright. 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