Report Urges Utilities, Regulators to Prep for EV Future
Alliance for Automotive Innovation recommends grid integration with EV fleet to accommodate, spur adoption.

The report’s recommendations include optional EV electricity rates to pay for fleet electrification, charging stations in areas with light traffic.
Pexels/Pixabay
An automotive industry trade and lobbying group is advocating the integration of electric vehicles and the U.S. electric grid to better pave the way for greater EV adoption.
The Alliance for Automotive Innovation released a report laying out a blueprint for such an integration, calling on utility companies, policy makers and regulators to prepare the grid. It includes groundwork such as managed EV charging, two-way charging, rate design and vehicle telematics.
It released the report at the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners’ summer policy summit this week to encourage cooperation on policy-setting between automakers and utilities.
“The automotive and electric power industries are converging. What does that mean? It means drivers increasingly consider electric utilities as the gateway to reliable and affordable electric mobility,” said alliance President and CEO John Bozzella in a press release on the report. “But EV drivers expect no compromise transportation – with convenient, reliable and affordable EV charging.”
The report’s recommendations include:
Optional EV electricity rates to pay for fleet electrification and charging stations in areas with light traffic
Making time-of-use power rates available to EV drivers and offering whole-house and EV-only variable rates
Compensation to EV drivers for feeding the grid
More Industry

Savings Seekers Boost U.S. Automakers’ Rivals
As consumers here look for ways to curb inflation’s affect on their budgets, brands offering plenty of alternative powertrains are closing in on home-grown OEMs.
Read More →
The Slow Electric Ascent
Second-quarter data show that the electric-vehicle market in the U.S. is inching up, the majority of states seeing a month-over-month increase.
Read More →
Safer Rides & Cyberattacks
Vehicle crash testing is getting a virtual boost, but auto dealerships are facing increased cyberattacks. Learn more in this week's Dealer Debrief!
Read More →
Affordability Angst | Dealer Debrief
August saw little relief for car buyers, whether they were shopping new or used. Take a look at the month's breakdown in this week's Dealer Debrief!
Read More →
Virtual Crash Testing in the Works
A company's platform works alongside physical crash testing to gather insights into occupant response and injury mechanisms, with the idea of helping automakers develop safer vehicles.
Read More →
Tariff Tiff Examined
Some auto industry leaders are taking a relaxed view of the U.S.-Canada trade war while others worry that a dramatically adjusted playing field could mean too much collateral damage.
Read More →
EV Consideration Climbs
Despite the loss of federal EV incentives, interest has grown in the U.S., largely thanks to charging infrastructure improvements.
Read More →
August Auto Angst
The hot month brought hot-to-the-touch vehicle prices in the U.S. as consumers dived for more affordable models but found higher price tags to go with them.
Read More →
Arizona Stores in New Hands
The two franchises bring continued growth for a homegrown automotive group in its third generation of family ownership.
Read More →
Two New Rides Earn Safety Awards
Thanks to vehicle redesigns, two more vehicles have earned IIHS’ Top Safety Pick+ award that builds on the criteria of the lower Top Safety Pick award.
Read More →