EV sales have hit record highs over the past year and are slated for continued growth in 2024 and beyond (Bloomberg, 2024). At high rates of adoption, these EVs can have significant impacts on coincident-system and feeder-level peaks. In preparation for this adoption, utilities across the U.S. have been implementing managed charging programs to optimize EV charging and mitigate grid impacts (SEPA, 2021). Managed charging is an umbrella term for the implementation of any passive or active strategy that optimizes EV charging. Managed charging can include:

• Charging a vehicle outside of a utility’s peak times
• Dynamically charging the vehicle in response to market signals
• Scheduling EV charging to coincide with periods of high renewable energy supply
• Reducing EV charging rates to limit load congestion at site and feeder levels
• Pausing and/or reducing EV charging to reduce a site’s or feeder’s peak demand
• Creating efficient charging schedules for fleets
• Using bidirectional charging to support customer and grid needs

Managed charging solutions can greatly benefit grid operations by maximizing the value of local generation, harnessing lower time-of-use (TOU) rates, and reducing on-site equipment upgrades. Part of the value of managed charging is determined by how the EVSE is controlled (Figure 1).