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January 26, 2026
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Can the Grid Handle EVs? Myth vs Reality
What utilities and grid experts said at our “EVs and the Grid” Webinar
One of the most common concerns about electric vehicles: “can the grid handle EVs?” It’s a fair question, and one that Plug-In KC set out to answer in its January 2026 webinar, Powering the Future: How EVs and the Grid Work Together. Featuring experts from Evergy and the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI), the conversation moved beyond headlines and assumptions to focus on how EVs actually interact with the grid in practice. The takeaway was clear: EVs don’t just draw power—they can help utilities manage demand, improve efficiency, and strengthen the grid over time.
Keep reading for some of our biggest myth-busting insights from the discussion about EVs and the Grid.
Myth 1: The grid doesn’t have enough electricity.
Reality: It’s more about when energy is used.
The grid isn’t short on total capacity—it’s built to handle peaks in demand. The real challenge is when the demand happens, not how much total energy is needed. EVs fit well into this system because most charging happens overnight, when there’s unused capacity.
Key points:
- Peak demand drives infrastructure needs
- Overnight capacity is underutilized
- EVs naturally shift into off-peak windows
Myth 2: Utilities aren’t ready for the increase in EV charging demand.
Reality: Charging is becoming smart and flexible.
There’s no question that electrification of transportation is creating a new and shifting environment in energy policy and practice, but utilities are responding and actively shaping how it meets this new reality. Through pricing and managed programs, charging is becoming increasingly automated and optimized.
Key points:
- Charging can be delayed without impacting drivers
- Utilities can influence behavior through Time-of-Use pricing
- Managed charging allows direct optimization
Myth 3: EV growth will require massive grid expansion.
Reality: Utilities are planning ahead, and building smarter.
EV adoption isn’t happening blindly, it’s being forecasted and planned for. Utilities are using data to predict where EVs will appear and making targeted upgrades, not system-wide overhauls.
Key points:
- Forecasting tools guide infrastructure investment
- Upgrades are localized, not universal
- Early EV adoption often fits within existing capacity
Myth 4: EVs only take from the grid.
Reality: EVs could become part of the solution.
EVs are evolving from simple loads into potential grid assets. With technologies like vehicle-to-grid (V2G), they could help store energy and support the system during peak demand.
Key points:
- EV batteries = distributed storage
- V2G can return power to the grid
- Pilot programs are already underway
So, can the grid handle EVs?
A better question is “how can EVs support the grid?”.
From smart charging to better use of existing infrastructure, one thing is clear: EVs are part of how the grid evolves. When EV charging is managed properly, it adds predictable, flexible demand that utilities can work with, not against. EVs introduce new electricity demand, but they also create new revenue and opportunities to better balance the system.
Panelists Included:
- Nick Voris, Director of Electrification at Evergy
- Dan Bowermaster, Sr. Program/Area Manager, Electric Transportation, EPRI
- Moderated by Jamie Green for Plug-in KC.
Watch the full “EVs and the Grid” conversation on YouTube.