The Grid -- June 29, 2021

EVs? Has anyone really thought this through?

Later afternoon, ISO-NE. At the site, New England is burning oil to produce electricity. Five percent of region's electricity comes from renewable energy (all types) and three percent of region's electricity comes from oil.

Earlier this afternoon, ISO-NE. 

Portland, OR, June 28, 2021, NBC News: Portland, OR hit third-highest temperature ever recorded in a major US city. 

Portland, OR: 

EVs do not have the range of ICEVs. Period. Dot.

• EVs take well over an hour to get a full charge.
• driving cross country from Portland, OR, to Flathead Lake, MT, we stopped at major tourist destination, St Regis, MT. Two gas stations.
• Cars lined up to get gasoline.
• I pulled in; filled tank in less than three minutes; drove away in less than five minutes.
• Now, imagine that same line of cars, lined up to charge for at least an hour.
• Yes, I know --- as many charging stations as you want to put in -- imagine the footprint of that parking lot to charge all those cars
• then, realize that parking lot would sit empty nine months of the year
• at St Regis: five EVs would have "gummed up" the system; now imagine a thousand EVs in that 24-hour period
• investment opportunity? Copper.