Although plug-in electric vehicles (EVs) currently make up less than one per cent of vehicles on the world’s roads, that figure is poised to increase significantly as more and more drivers recognize the advantages of going electric.

Mass adoption of EVs would put a big dent in global carbon emissions. However, it also poses challenges for electrical distribution systems. When thousands of commuters within a city arrive at work and plug in their vehicle, the surge in demand could overload…