The Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy, having assessed a number of different scenarios for meeting net zero by 2050, has estimated that electric cars will increase electricity demand by around 20% by 2050 and we wanted to understand the network’s ability to cope.53 The Department explained that the increase in demand for electric vehicles is set within the context of an overall doubling of demand for electricity by 2050. The Department is approaching this from the perspect...

The Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy, having assessed a number of different scenarios for meeting net zero by 2050, has estimated that electric cars will increase electricity demand by around 20% by 2050 and we wanted to understand the network’s ability to cope.53 The Department explained that the increase in demand for electric vehicles is set within the context of an overall doubling of demand for electricity by 2050. The Department is approaching this from the perspective of generation and transmission and distribution networks; it told us mechanisms like the capacity market and contracts for difference are in place to Type: conclusion | Number: 24 | Response status: under_consideration Government response: 5.4 Preparing the electricity grid: The Energy White Paper (December 2020), sets out government’s plan to ensure electricity networks are prepared and able to integrate EVs at the same time as other technologies such as heat pumps and new low carbon generat