However, the last several years, in particular, have demonstrated a marked increase in the number of residential households switching to the use of electric vehicles (EVs). As we know, EVs are advertised as being “greener” for the environment chiefly based on the fact that they output 0 emissions.

But of course, EVs need electricity in order to run. And this simple fact has sparked a hot debate around one question — “Is the grid ready for electric cars?”

Are We Ready for an EV Future?

To anyone who may think that the answer to this question is settled, I encourage you to Google the exact question that I wrote out above. You’ll quickly see that every other article on the results page expresses a contrary opinion.

        At the time of writing this, the top result is a resounding positive sentiment that, yes, we are ready.
        The second result expresses an optimism that the grid can probably handle it — with a few upgrades.
        The third result (Washington Post) says that the grid is not up to the task.

While Google is no crystal ball, it’s a useful means of aggregating a sentiment from multiple points of view. It doesn’t seem, at least at the media level, that the narrative has moved toward an outright acceptance of our readiness for an EV-powered future.

This, however, runs contrary to the overall sentiment toward “renewable” energy sources. It is noteworthy that many of the same organizations and individuals who yearn for an EV future that we needed to have yesterday don’t believe that our systems can handle it today.

Infrastructure Begets Adoption

You could say that when it comes to renewable energy, I am a pragmatist.

I wish to align with the goals to reduce the amount of needless emission and pollution caused by non-renewable energy sources — I simply believe that we cannot make that switch without due consideration of the systems that may break when we do so.

Interestingly enough, many of the greatest proponents for electric vehicles and renewable energy sources (and their hasty adoption) seem at least willing to consider that we’d be taxing our system more than it can currently handle.

Does that mean that we abandon our objective outright? Absolutely not.

All good things in life take time. I believe that without having an expressly articulated goal to create a renewable energy future, we would not make any forward progress. A shared vision among people is essential to any kind of transformation at that scale.

But we cannot become so consumed with our objective that we fail to see that the realization of it in our current state would do us great harm.

Without the infrastructure to charge a fleet of vehicles, things could quite literally slow to a halt.

Developing Energy Infrastructure Built for Tomorrow   

In order to develop a future that aligns with our vision of renewable energy, I believe that we need to take a hard look at the systems that we currently have at our disposal.

My example from Google above likely refers to the energy infrastructure in the United States. But if even a superpower like the U.S. is not ready to go fully electric, what can be expected of less-developed countries?

Our plan of transitioning is perhaps the one that requires the most due consideration and honesty as we seek to create a more renewable energy-driven future together.