• GridUp forecasts EV charging demands, enabling efficient grid upgrades.
• Supported by FedEx, GridUp helps utilities plan for EV growth at a granular level.
• Addresses key barriers to transportation electrification with detailed insights.

RMI and FedEx have introduced GridUp, a cutting-edge tool designed to predict energy and power needs for electric vehicle (EV) charging. Backed by a grant from FedEx, GridUp provides utilities with detailed forecasts to help plan grid upgrades efficiently.

“One of the most consequential barriers to widespread transportation electrification is the grid’s ability to reliably provide the power required for vehicle charging,” said Clay Stranger, managing director at RMI. “GridUp addresses this barrier by projecting when and where EVs will need power with granular detail, enabling utilities, cities, and states to make informed planning and investment decisions.“

The transportation sector is rapidly moving towards electrification. However, the current US grid infrastructure cannot support the future electricity demands from EV charging without significant upgrades. GridUp helps utilities forecast:

• Growth Areas: Identify regions with high EV growth potential, driven by medium- and heavy-duty electric truck activities.
• Energy Needs: Estimate energy requirements, such as Allegheny County needing the equivalent energy of nearly 68,000 single-family homes by 2035.
• Charging Locations: Determine optimal charger locations, like public spots in dense Brooklyn and single-family homes in Queens.

Pat Donlon, VP of Global Vehicles at FedEx, emphasized the importance of this tool, stating, “You can order all the electric vehicles in the world over the next few years, but none of that matters if the grid capacity isn’t there to support charging them.“

GridUp’s insights stem from a 2021 pilot, gathering valuable feedback from utilities and regulators. This tool is uniquely flexible, allowing users to understand how driving behavior shapes charging demand.

“Fleet electrification requires the cooperation of an entire ecosystem,” Donlon added. “Supporting a tool like GridUp is vital to help utilities understand and plan for increased electricity needs.“

Mike Roeth, Executive Director of the North American Council on Freight Electrification, echoed this sentiment: “We’re looking at thousands of vehicle fleets trying to connect across thousands of utility service territories, each with their own complex systems. To handle a shift at that scale, we need a forward-looking, holistic view on how transportation electrification will play out, which is where GridUp comes in.“

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Brian Wilkie, Director of Clean Energy Development – Transportation at National Grid NY, praised GridUp: “RMI’s modeling and load forecasting support allowed us to get a window into a future that will be largely decarbonized, arming us with the information needed to develop projects for transport electrification.“

Steven Hershkowitz, Managing Director for Clean Transportation at the Washington State Department of Commerce, added, “RMI’s GridUp tool helps us make stronger decisions about budget requests, program design, grid distribution plans, and EV-ready building codes. We are pleased to see our Transportation Electrification Strategy scaled up to a national tool.“