tripper1000:

 

snnet:  You are right though, in regards to EV being pushed, our grid can't handle everyone charging their cars at night all at once.

 

The Transpower side of the grid can handle night time charging just fine because the grid is under-utilised at night (they released a paper saying so). Check the live data yourself & notice that presently loading almost halves overnight. On peak usage is already an issue without EV's in the mix, hence the 400kv power line upgrade in the Waikato, and soon the Cook Strait cable).

 

You repeat a technically correct but mischievous/deceptive argument against EV's (except the timing is usually @ 6pm) that is untrue in reality. The same point is also technically correct for kettles in that the grid also could not handle everyone switching on their kettles at the same time, but that isn't a problem in reality because we don't all switch on our kettles at the same time - our coffees don't occur in perfect unison and it's the same for flat EV's.

 

However, NZ generation can not cope long term with EV loading (or increased loading from any source - such as Fontera switch away from coal), because we are already running short due to population growth and de-investment/closure of power stations/banning log burners and soon due to banning natural gas.

 

In the UK power retailers are controlling customer loads (like EV) via web connections, so the necessity of appliance connectable meters is negated.

 

Edit: Link addition.

 

Problem is, kettles tend to run for maybe a couple of minutes and car charging will usually take several hours so there's going to be a lot more overlap than boiling a jug. The national grid may be able to handle this, but I can tell you for sure that local substations will definitely struggle as they are