The Equity Challenge: Ensuring Grid Upgrades Don’t Leave Communities Behind in California

Yanning PhD Li and Alan PhD Jenn

Institute of Transportation Studies, Working Paper Series from Institute of Transportation Studies, UC Davis

Abstract: California’s rapid shift toward vehicle electrification will require substantial upgrades to the state’s electricity distribution grid (i.e., the part of the electric power system that delivers electricity from substations to homes, businesses, and other end users). Without proactive planning, these upgrades risk exacerbating existing inequities in access to electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure and grid capacity. Specifically, disadvantaged communities that already struggle with higher pollution and economic hardship have lower rates of EV adoption, but are more likely to need costly grid upgrades to support charging. To better understand these equity implications, we analyzed grid capacity and charging needs across more than 5,000 distribution feeders in California. We combined real-world utility data with projections of EV adoption and charging behavior models for light-, medium-, and heavy-duty vehicles.

Keywords: Engineering (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025-11-01
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