Gas and oil prices have been a global point of contention for a long time now– after all, hundreds of millions of people rely on gas-powered cars and commercial vehicles for daily transportation. As of now, no viable alternatives to these modes of transportation have arisen on a widespread basis– but Dr. Sayonsom Chanda, CEO of data analytics software company Plexflo, has reason to believe that electric vehicles will surpass those powered by gas within the next 10-15 years.

Electric cars have been around for a while; the very first “electric car” was invented in 1890 by chemist William Morrison. In the 132 years since then, electric vehicles (or EVs) have largely remained a compelling but inaccessible or impractical transportation solution. Today, most models are far too expensive for the average person to afford– and even if they could, range anxiety is prevalent for good reason. Some of the most expensive EVs have a range of nearly 500 miles, but more budget-friendly options are much more limited in the range drivers can travel without needing a recharge. Access to charging stations is also an issue, and even if you were able to access charging stations throughout your entire drive, you’d still need hours to reach a full recharge.

For most people, EVs as they exist today are just not a practical choice. But technological advancements are made all the time, and Dr. Chanda predicts that the popularity of electric cars will increase slowly but steadily over the next several years. This is great news for the environment, since electric cars release zero tailpipe emissions– hundreds of millions of metric tons of carbon dioxide are released into the atmosphere by gas-powered cars each year!

But there’s a catch: our power grids. Power infrastructures worldwide are unreliable and unable to stand up to natural disasters and other events that lead to power failures. In a world where everyone depends on EVs, having constant and reliable access to electricity is an absolute necessity. So if we hope to reach a point where gas-powered cars are completely replaced by EVs, global power infrastructures will require massive upgrades.

Dr. Sayon Chanda, an electrical engineer and entrepreneur, was passionate about the need for clean air from a young age. He grew up in Kolkata, India, a city where the air quality is often very poor. As a result of the pollution, he developed breathing problems, and was only able to find relief when he was in a room with an air conditioner and air purifier running. The power grid in Kolkata was particularly unstable, and power failures and cuts were a frequent occurrence– and when the power was off, young Dr. Chanda struggled to breathe.

In 2012, Dr. Chanda came to the United States to receive his Master of Science in Electrical Engineering, and then his Ph.D. in Electrical and Electronics Engineering, from Washington State University. While he was in the process of completing his doctoral studies, he became fascinated by Tesla’s newly-released electric cars– not because they were self-driving, but because they promised zero tailpipe emissions. If this method of transportation was widely adopted, it would be colossally beneficial to the environment, with the potential to improve air quality worldwide. (The early days of the COVID-19 pandemic are proof of this; when lockdowns were enforced and traffic greatly decreased, air quality all over the world improved!) 

Dr. Chanda’s newfound interest in EVs would go on to inform his life’s work: finding a way to streamline the process of improving power infrastructures to allow for the growth of EVs and the protection of our planet’s atmosphere. He explains, “Planning ahead will play a big role in enabling the full potential of electric vehicles, as not only mediums of clean transportation and a resilient resource for the grid, but also as an agent of clean air in the communities these utilities serve.”

Plexflo is beautifully-designed, user-friendly software, created to take some of the “grunt work” out of the rate case design and planning process for electrical engineers. “Using Plexflo, engineers can simulate different EV usage scenarios, carry out simulations, and perform rich, in-depth analytics about the impact of EV charging on electric grid assets and local environments,” says Dr. Chanda. “I believe that by saving engineers a little bit of time, we can accelerate change around the world.”

About Plexflo

Plexflo helps utilities build detailed EV adoption and charging behavior models to improve the sustainability, reliability and affordability of the power grid as it evolves. Contact Plexflo: 720-924-1818 |  [email protected] | plexflo.com