A new report summarises the findings of the Data Availability Taskforce, established under the Distributed Energy Integration Program (DEIP), highlighting the critical need for better data on electric vehicles (EVs) as their uptake continues to grow with increased affordability and new models.
DEIP’s EV Grid Integration Working Group, a collaboration between industry, government and regulatory bodies, aims to identify and promote the policy and regulatory development required to enable the energy sector to prepare now to effectively integrate EVs into existing networks and markets ahead of wide-scale EV uptake.
The availability of EV data was identified is a key challenge for the energy sector. Data form direct inputs into the forecasting and planning processes of the Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO) and distribution network service providers (DNSPs), and also feed into modelling and analytics work undertaken by research organisations and academia that, in turn, inform decision-making and regulatory processes within the energy sector and government.
Data is essential to inform planning and decision making, noting that decisions made during these early stages of EV uptake could have significant cost implications for EV owners and energy consumers more broadly.
The Data Availability Taskforce was established in 2019 to focus on identifying EV data needs from an energy sector perspective, alongside potential collection mechanisms and delivery options, and today released a report highlighting the gaps in EV data in Australia.
The uptake of EVs in Australia is projected to accelerate rapidly in coming years, with two million EVs expected on Australian roads by the mid-2030s. By this time the EV consumption of electricity from the national grid is forecast to grow at more than 1TWh/year – with significant implications for the National Electricity Market.
The report reflects input from a broad range of energy and transport sector stakeholders, collated and assessed to establish a prioritised set of data requirements. Seven categories of data requirements were identified, including static (infrequently updated) and dynamic (time varying) data. Static data for vehicles and electric vehicle supply equipment (EVSE – commonly referred to as ‘chargers’) and dynamic EVSE operations data were deemed the highest priority categories.
The report outlines recommendations to bridge data gaps and to stimulate further action from industry and government. Potential benefits of improved EV data availability are highlighted, including:
Improved accuracy of uptake and impact modelling.
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More detailed system stability modelling.
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Evidence-based research to inform public policy and infrastructure planning.
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Enabling EVs to participate in energy and services markets.
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Targeted, efficient investment in charging infrastructure.
The report can be found on AEMO’s website.
For further information please contact electricvehicles@aemo.com.au.