IRONIC? Tesla is building the world’s largest supercharger station, but it’s powered by a diesel power plant

10/13/2023 / By Laura Harris

Energy-related public policy analyst David Blackmon has revealed that Tesla, the leading electric vehicle (EV) manufacturer, is building the world’s largest Tesla Supercharger station in California. But the irony is, the station is fueled by a diesel power plant.

During the interview with Blackmon on EpochTV‘s “Crossroads,” he disclosed that the Harris Ranch EV charging station in Coalinga, California has 98 high-speed Tesla chargers. Moreover, the charging station is partially powered by a diesel-generating plant. (Related: EV owners complain about “logistical nightmare” caused by lack of charging stations.)

However, this project contradicts their 2021 claim that all of Tesla’s Superchargers would be 100 percent powered by renewable energy. Though Tesla did not give a statement, Blackmon explained the role of diesel in electric vehicles.

“People think, I guess they think the power comes from just the sky or something. But something has to generate the electricity that enables those chargers to recharge those batteries. And Tesla operates this charging station and decided they needed that diesel generating plant, and they strategically located it behind the Shell station,” he said.

Power grid transformer shortage threatens EV expansion and grid reliability

During the interview, Blackmon also discussed one of the pressing issues – the capacity of the power grid to meet the growing demand for electricity due to the increasing use of EVs. He discussed the shortage of electric transformers, which are essential components of every electrical project worldwide.

“Transformers are an integral part of every electricity project in America—around the world, really—and they’re in very short supply. It’s taking up to four years to source new supplies of these transformers. Inventories are very low.”

In an article written by Katie Brigham for CNBC, she also explains that by 2030, more than half of all new cars sold in the United States are likely to be EVs. This could create a problem for the electricity grid, which is already quite old and designed for a world that primarily relies on fossil fuels.

In March, IEEE Spectrum, a publication of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, delved into the transformer crisis within the U.S. power grid as it adapts to EVs.

Professor Deepak Divan, the director of the Center for Distributed Energy at the Georgia Institute of Technology, estimated that connecting multiple Level 2 chargers to a single transformer can drastically reduce its lifespan, thus putting more pressure on these essential components.

The rising cost of transformers from $3,000 to $20,000 each is also challenging. Larger transformers are necessary to support the growing number of EVs, and so is the replacement of numerous power poles in the United States.

Some experts suggest encouraging EV owners to charge during off-peak hours to reduce the strain on the grid. However, the report warns that this may not fully solve the peak-load issue as EVs become more common.

Transformers are designed to cool down at night, but when multiple EVs use Level 2 chargers at night, they can overheat, especially during summer heatwaves.

Moreover, shifting from fossil fuels to renewable energy further increases costs. The local grid upgrades alone require around $1 trillion by 2035 for the 3,000 electric distribution utilities in the U.S. So, the cost of improvement and replacement of power-generation units, transmission lines, substations, and renewable energy and battery storage support could be over $2.5 trillion by 2035. In short, utility companies are also affected.

Blackman also emphasized that charging EVs during disasters like hurricanes could be affected by power disruption. The lack of transformers could significantly delay power restoration, especially in areas with many EVs.

Learn more about electric vehicles at RoboCars.news.

Watch this video that talks about whether the U.S. power grid can handle the EV boom.

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