Sorry chaps - we are forgetting something.
Provisioning has always been based on a combination of statistical analysis and common sense. There will never be the capacity to cater for a worst case scenario. The electricity network is based on provisioning rules that worked very well until now. The planning that Tim references will change the provisioning rules but will still make reasonable assumptions. For example, most car charging will take place when people are asleep and most cooking occurs when people are awake. Some limited intelligence in domestic installations will cater for usage anomalies. The planning already foresees cars being used as a reservoir that will feed back to the grid at peek usage times (evening meals etc) and defer charging until later on.
Sorry I still can't see this being enough to allow practical home charging Paul, with present home supplies at least. Who will be happy to have their car batteries drained early evening when other home demands are at their greatest. What about modern homes that already use off peak electric heating. Doubt there are enough hours in the day even if it could be averaged out.
It's already been suggested that EV's used in rural areas will have the greatest home charging demands. Unfortunately, and I speak from experience, many such areas already suffer occasionally from peak demand trips.
