Elon has replace Howard Hughes in my hero department! But this whole EV thing is like putting the cart out in front of the horse. I won't beat on that poor dead horse here, but I think the argument of a dilapidated grid is a very valid concern.
So with that said, here's my perspective of a day in the life of the average citizen 10-years from now.
_________________________________________________________________
It’s 2034. The average day in America starts with a handful of people frantically checking their energy apps to see if their EVs charged overnight or if the "rolling charge caps" kicked in. In order to manage demand, most cities now use scheduled charging windows. Unless you’re paying premium rates for priority access, there’s a good chance your EV got a “partial” charge during low-demand hours.
You’re lucky if your drive to work doesn’t start with an alert:
"Please charge soon—range may be limited due to grid restrictions." Good times. Employers have tried to help out with charging stations at work, but many are capped or restricted because businesses have their own energy quotas. Solar panels on buildings help, but they’re often too little too late when peak hours roll in.
Residential areas face "energy-saving windows" to keep the grid from collapsing, where power’s reduced or cut altogether for an hour or two. Imagine needing to charge your EV in between washing dishes and doing a load of laundry, all before the “power pause” hits. And you’d better hope the weather’s mild; extreme temperatures make the whole system extra touchy. Hot summer? Expect rolling blackouts. Cold winter? Same story.
Gas stations? They’re still around but mostly to supply delivery vehicles, emergency services, and a small but committed base of internal combustion drivers who held onto their “classics.” Fuel prices are sky-high because traditional fuel is now a luxury.
Over time, the demand for better batteries and renewable energy has ramped up, but that growth was only enough to keep the ship from sinking, not to bring any real relief. People have gotten savvy, though, home batteries, solar panels, and energy management systems are common for folks who can afford them, turning them into mini power grid managers. “Energy resilience” has gone from a luxury to a necessity.
So, while EVs have definitely become mainstream, the average day in America revolves around navigating a complex, sometimes finicky system to keep everything charged and running.
Who knew the future could feel so much like making it through a North Carolina storm with candles and a generator?
