On-Road Electric Vehicles Surpass 2.13 Million

Last week the Energy Information Administration announced that in 2021, the number of U.S. registered light-duty electric vehicles (EV) on the roads surpassed 2.13 million. This was a sharp uptick from the less than 100,000 electric vehicles that were on the roads in 2012.

Electric vehicles have become increasingly popular in the U.S., particularly in the luxury sector. The EV industry also enjoys a bounty of government subsidies intended to increase uptake. This includes EV purchase incentives, zero emission vehicles sales requirements, fuel economy standards, and funding through the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act.

It should be noted that as the number of EVs on the road increases, so does the need to charge them. This increasing number of EVs simply increases the aggregate pressure on the grid. For example, on June 17 the California Independent System Operator issued a “Flex Alert,” encouraging citizens to avoid charging their electric vehicles or using major appliances between 5 and 10 p.m. to reduce energy usage and prevent outages.

The inclusion of propane Autogas not only takes aggregate pressure off of the grid, but is a favorable environmental alternative. The national average carbon intensity of grid electricity is 130 grams/megajoule (g/MJ), whereas the national average of carbon intensity of conventional propane is 79 g/MJ. Government agencies should take the full fuel cycle into consideration when considering subsidies for EVs, including the total carbon dioxide emissions from extracting resources (such as coal, natural gas, minerals needed for battery composition, etc.), generation of electricity, and end usage in charging. Propane Autogas is a clean, alternative fuel and its inclusion in the transportation mix lowers emissions from the transportation sector and reduces upward pressure on the electric grid.

For more information, please contact NPGA’s Manager of State Government Affairs, Austin Wicker.