Date: August 2025

As transportation electrification accelerates, T&D must accommodate the growing demand from fleet electrification. Different vehicle types have distinct charging load profiles, with 50 light-duty vehicles alone requiring up to 360 kW, and medium- and heavy-duty fleets demanding even more. To assess grid readiness, charging load profiles for various fleets in the Kansas Metro and Kansas Central areas were modeled. Fleet locations were mapped to their nearest utility transformers and feeder lines, with coincident peak loads overlaid on distribution system data. The analysis assumed 50% electrification in target fleets, comparing summer and winter peak capacity against projected EV load demand and growth.Results showed that under a baseline scenario, 8% of distribution circuits would require upgrades, while managed charging strategies reduced this to 2%. This impact study underscores the importance of proactive utility planning to anticipate electrification impacts and highlights how to utilize programs to mitigate distribution system upgrade costs while maintaining reliability.

Speakers:
Kameel Kishek, CLEAResult
Julie Dietrich, Fleet Electrification