Planning for electric-vehicle evacuations: energy, infrastructure, and storage needs

As we advance toward an era of high electric vehicle (EV) adoption, it is critical to address the power requirements for EVs during disaster evacuations, particularly in scenarios of grid failure. This paper provides a comprehensive analysis of the energy needs of EVs during evacuations using a pragmatic stochastic methodology that is both user-friendly and computationally efficient compared to traditional optimization tools. The study evaluates the power requirements of charging infrastructure for various evacuation scenarios, and benchmarks them against the existing infrastructure in several California cities. Additionally, the paper examines the necessary size of backup lithium battery storage to ensure EVs can be adequately powered during evacuations in the absence of grid support. This research offers valuable insights for emergency planners and policymakers to enhance evacuation readiness in the context of increasing EV penetration.