Electric vehicle charging efficiency and grid stability concerns

Recent findings highlight significant energy losses when charging electric vehicles (EVs) from standard household sockets. Testing by the German automotive organization ADAC revealed that up to 24.2% of electricity can be lost during the process, with the Mercedes CLA 350 EQ experiencing the highest loss and the Tesla Model Y the lowest at 12.7%. These losses occur due to inefficient onboard chargers at low power and continuous standby consumption by the vehicle's electronics, which can draw between 100 and 300 watts during long charging sessions.

Separately, experts are warning of potential strain on the electrical grid as EV adoption grows. In Denmark, projections suggest the number of EVs could reach 2.3 million by 2035. Professor Henrik Madsen from the Technical University of Denmark (DTU) warns that simultaneous charging during peak hours, such as late at night, could create a load of approximately 25 gigawatts—more than three times Denmark's current maximum electricity consumption. Such surges risk overloading local distribution networks, a challenge already observed in areas like Gislinge. Proposed solutions include dynamic pricing to spread charging throughout the day and bidirectional charging capabilities.