Xcel Energy, an energy provider in the United States that provides power to 3.3 million electricity customers has announced a bold plan to help put 1.5 million electric cars on the road by 2030.
Xcel’s “vision” would see 20% of all the vehicles in Minnesota, Michigan, Wisconsin, North Dakota, South Dakota, Colorado, Texas and New Mexico transition to electric powertrains, reducing annual carbon emissions by 5 million tons (about 4.5 million tonnes).
The plan goes hand in hand with Xcel Energy’s goal to transition to 100% carbon free electricity by 2050.
In the 8 states it provides energy to, it says it has already reduced carbon emissions by 44% from 2005 levels using a mix of nuclear, wind, solar, and other renewable sources.
The company doesn’t give too many specifics on how it will help drivers transition to electric vehicles, but highlights that consumers will save because powering an electric vehicle cost less than buying petrol and diesel for a car for an internal combustion engine car.
It adds that further savings can be gained by charging it off peak times. This is something we’ve seen some companies in Australia such as Powershop which encourages drivers to charge during off peak times by offering low tariffs.
Xcel Energy does say that it will direct its programs to public transport, ride-share and other equity-focused initiatives, ensuring that everyone can gain “access to the benefits of electric transportation, especially for those in low-income, underserved communities.”
But the real gold in going electric, of course, lies in the continuing transition of the grid mix to renewables.
Xcel Energy’s plan to reach 100% carbon free electricity by 2050 includes increasing it’s investment largely in wind power. It has a pretty neat interactive pie chart that says it is on track to achieve 60% carbon free electricity by 2027.
What that means for drivers in the 8 US states that Xcel Energy serves, is that those who buy an electric vehicle today will over time have a vehicle that is more efficient (when powered off the local grid) than it was when they bought it.
And this doesn’t even include drivers who choose to charge their electric vehicles off their own rooftop solar.
Bridie Schmidt is associate editor for The Driven, sister site of Renew Economy. She has been writing about electric vehicles since 2018, and has a keen interest in the role that zero-emissions transport has to play in sustainability. She has participated in podcasts such as Download This Show with Marc Fennell and Shirtloads of Science with Karl Kruszelnicki and is co-organiser of the Northern Rivers Electric Vehicle Forum. Bridie also owns a Tesla Model Y and has it available for hire on evee.com.au.