New demand, new challenges, and new opportunities: Making EVs and the grid work together [Guest Editorial]

Electric Vehicles (EVS) are not hype. They are here to stay as a critical component in the decarbonization of our transport. According to the International Energy Agency, from 2017 to 2022 alone, EV sales (battery and plug-in hybrids) went from 1 million to more than 10 million. In 2022, 14% of all new cars sold globally were electric. In China, where half of the world’s EVs reside, the share of EVs in total car sales reached 29% in 2022. In Europe, the second largest market, more than one in every five cars sold was electric. In the United States, the share of EVs in total car sales reached almost 8%. With more EVs, of course, comes more electricity demand. This means we also need to ensure that EVs and the grid, particularly the distribution grid, can work together.