Individual driver emission reduction due to electric vehicle-based residential load shifting: Insights from Germany

Commuters require measures tailored to their individual behavior to reduce emissions associated with their residential electricity demand. This paper investigates the operation of a spatiotemporal residential load-shifting concept where Electric Vehicles (EVs) charge low-emission electricity from the grid at the workplace (rather than at a commuter's residence), function as mobile energy storage device, and cover residential electricity demand through battery discharging. The success of this strategy in reducing emissions hinges on aligning electricity demand with the country- and time-specific emissions associated with grid electricity constrained by individual behavioral habits. In this paper, we analyze why and how much seasons and driver behavior (in terms of both the commuter's driving and residential electricity demand behavior) change the emission reduction impact of EV-based residential load shifting. We contribute to the literature by explaining the changes in emission reduction and validating previous results with German conditions using real-world behavioral and grid data. While winter yields a −0.3 % median emission reduction, summer offers a promising median potential of 24 % and a maximum of 42 %. Commuters with a daily driving distance above 110 km who arrive home after 08:00 p.m. stand out, as they reduce emissions by more than 10 % above the average. These insights contextualize optimistic assessments of EV-based residential load shifting, indicating that the individual impact for Germany-like conditions is rather small. • Emission reduction potential explanation of residential load shifting via EVs. • Residential load shifting without emission reduction for German winters. • Residential load shifting yields up to 42 % emission reduction for German summers. • Highest potential for daily commutes above 110 km and at-home arrival after 08:00 p.m. • The individual emission reduction impact is rather small for Germany-like conditions.