How many vehicles can 1GWh supply?
3 Answers
1 gigawatt-hour (GWh) of batteries can approximately supply 20,000 vehicles. Detailed explanation: 1 kilowatt-hour (KWH) equals one unit of electricity, so 1 megawatt-hour (MWH) means (the battery storage capacity is) 1,000 units of electricity. A Tesla vehicle's battery capacity is approximately 60-90 units, while other vehicles may be slightly less, ranging from 30-80 units. Conservatively estimating an average of 50 units per vehicle, 1 megawatt-hour (MWH) of batteries can supply around 20 vehicles, and 1 gigawatt-hour (GWH) can supply approximately 20,000 vehicles. Regarding installation volume: In January 2021, the total installation volume of power batteries reached 8.7GWh, a year-on-year increase of 273.9%, but a month-on-month decrease of 33.1%, showing significant year-on-year growth. The installation volumes of ternary batteries and lithium iron phosphate batteries were 5.4GWh and 3.3GWh, respectively, with year-on-year increases of 241.9% and 349.8%, and month-on-month decreases of 9.8% and 52.8%.
As an ordinary driver who has been driving electric cars for over a decade, I often ponder about energy. 1GWh is roughly equivalent to one million kilowatt-hours. For an average electric car like the Tesla Model 3 with a battery capacity of around 60 kWh, this amount of energy can fully charge over 16,000 vehicles. However, in reality, charging losses are significant, with efficiency only around 80%, so some deductions must be made. The type of vehicle also has a major impact—smaller EVs like the BYD Seagull with just 40 kWh can charge more, while larger SUVs like the Ford Mustang Mach-E with 100 kWh halve that number. Additionally, temperature affects energy consumption; in winter, power drains faster, reducing the number of days this energy can last. Overall, this scale is sufficient to support a city’s bus fleet for over a week, making a significant impact on fuel savings and emissions reduction.
I've been focusing on eco-friendly transportation, and I think 1GWh of electricity is truly a boon for electric vehicles. A simple estimate shows that at an average charging standard of 60 kWh per vehicle, 1GWh can charge approximately over 16,000 vehicles. But it's not just about the numbers—it helps promote the integration of renewable energy, such as using solar power storage stations to supply charging piles, thereby reducing carbon emissions. The key issue is energy loss; about 20% of the energy is wasted during the charging process, reducing the actual supply. Additionally, vehicle efficiency varies greatly—compact cars travel shorter distances per charge but can go further on a single charge, while larger vehicles are the opposite. Taking all factors into account, it can support a medium-sized county town's daily electric vehicle charging needs, promoting the development of green transportation.
