Electric vehicle managed charging experiment

Last registered on July 16, 2024
View Trial History

Pre-Trial

Trial Information

General Information

Title
Electric vehicle managed charging experiment
RCT ID
AEARCTR-0014013
Initial registration date
July 11, 2024

Initial registration date is when the trial was registered.

It corresponds to when the registration was submitted to the Registry to be reviewed for publication.

First published
July 16, 2024, 3:32 PM EDT

First published corresponds to when the trial was first made public on the Registry after being reviewed.

Locations

Country
United States of America
Region
California

Primary Investigator

Name
Fiona Burlig
Affiliation
University of Chicago
Contact Primary Investigator

Other Primary Investigator(s)

PI Name
James Bushnell
PI Affiliation
UC Davis
Contact Investigator
PI Name
David Rapson
PI Affiliation
UC Davis
Contact Investigator

Additional Trial Information

Status
Completed
Start date
2023-05-01
End date
2023-12-31
Keywords
Environment & Energy
Additional Keywords
electric vehicles, load shifting
JEL code(s)
Secondary IDs
Prior work
This trial does not extend or rely on any prior RCTs.
Abstract
In this project, we partner with Peninsula Clean Energy, a California electric utility, to evaluate the impacts of experimental electricity price schedules and control technology for electric vehicle (EV) owners on household electricity use. Electrified transportation is a critical component of global decarbonization plans; beyond reducing greenhouse gas emissions from driving, EVs may also balance intermittent renewables by providing battery services to the grid. The ability to realize these benefits depends on two factors: 1) how EV owners respond to the pricing incentives that align private and social marginal costs of electricity consumption, and 2) EV owners' willingness to allow utilities to directly manage their charging load. We use a randomized controlled trial to estimate consumers' willingness to accept novel rates, including time-of-use price schedules and managed charging plans where consumers cede control over their charging to the utility. We will then quantify the impacts of these experimental electricity pricing plans on the timing and amount of EV electricity consumed.
External Link(s)

Registration Citation

Citation
Burlig, Fiona, James Bushnell and David Rapson. 2024. "Electric vehicle managed charging experiment." AEA RCT Registry. July 16. https://doi.org/10.1257/rct.14013-1.0
Sponsors & Partners
Experimental Details

Interventions

Intervention(s)
Peninsula Clean Energy randomized households with EVs into EV telemetry measurements, steep time-of-use pricing, and EV managed charging.
Intervention (Hidden)
Intervention Start Date
2023-05-01
Intervention End Date
2023-12-31

Primary Outcomes

Primary Outcomes (end points)
Program enrollment, electricity consumption, EV usage
Primary Outcomes (explanation)

Secondary Outcomes

Secondary Outcomes (end points)
Secondary Outcomes (explanation)

Experimental Design

Experimental Design
We randomize households into one of several groups: pure control; control + telemetry offer; managed charging ($0 incentive); managed charging ($5/mo incentive); managed charging ($20/mo incentive); managed charging ($40/mo incentive); whole-house steep TOU; whole-house steep TOU + telemetry; EV-only steep TOU.
Experimental Design Details
Randomization Method
Randomization done on computer.
Randomization Unit
Household
Was the treatment clustered?
No

Experiment Characteristics

Sample size: planned number of clusters
15,000
Sample size: planned number of observations
15,000
Sample size (or number of clusters) by treatment arms
Approx 1000 hh / arm.
Minimum detectable effect size for main outcomes (accounting for sample design and clustering)
Supporting Documents and Materials
IRB

Institutional Review Boards (IRBs)

IRB Name
IRB Approval Date
IRB Approval Number
Analysis Plan

There is information in this trial unavailable to the public. Use the button below to request access.

Request Information

Post-Trial

Post Trial Information

Study Withdrawal

There is information in this trial unavailable to the public. Use the button below to request access.

Request Information

Intervention

Is the intervention completed?
No
Data Collection Complete
Data Publication

Data Publication

Is public data available?
No

Program Files

Program Files
Reports, Papers & Other Materials

Relevant Paper(s)

Reports & Other Materials