(Montel) French EV plans pose no threat to supply – experts

For the original publication, please click here.

France’s efforts to deploy electric vehicles (EVs) in the next decade will generate additional electricity demand but should not pose a threat to supply due to energy savings and efficiency measures, experts told Montel.

The nation’s EV stock was set to rise to 8.5m cars by 2030, likely causing a hike in power demand for EV charging of about 16 TWh by 2030 and possibly 35-40 TWh by 2035, said a spokesperson for research and analysis firm Acuity Knowledge Partners.

EV-related electricity consumption could account for about 10% of total French power use in 2030 and 15% by 2050, according to TSO figures.

Nevertheless, the growing number of EVs would not result in “any constraints in terms of electricity production, even with a very large volume of vehicles”, said Nicolas Meunier, manager at French climate consulting firm Carbone 4.

He pointed to a recent TSO RTE estimate that 12m EVs – including plug-in hybrid cars – would generate about 30 TWh of electricity demand, compared to a national production of about 500 TWh per year.

“Moreover, electricity consumption specific to individual electro-mobility would not be added to current consumption because it would be largely offset by the general reduction in consumption in the medium term for other uses,” Meunier added.

Consumption reduction

He pointed to the impact of energy efficiency measures in the industrial, residential and tertiary sectors, which are France’s main gas and electricity consumers.

The French government presented late last year an energy plan with a potential 50 TWh reduction in consumption, with measures aimed at reducing heating during peak demand periods or curbing car use, among others.

The TSO estimates power consumption will reach 580-640 TWh by the middle of the next decade.

To meet this extra demand, France would need to speed up the development of renewables and optimise existing nuclear output, in addition to leverage energy efficiency and other energy savings measures.