EV Chargers and Smart Charging
So now you have a fancy new Hyundai Kona, Chevy Bolt, Mustang Mach-E or Tesla Model S! Cruising the open road with 0 emissions. Laughing as you drive by all those suckers at gas stations paying $1.22 for gas in PEI, $1.05 in Ontario and a whopping $1.45 in BC (Gasbuddies.com - March 10, 2021). Like your cell phone, you need to plug those puppies in to ensure you can always use it when you need it! Ever run out of juice on your phone when you need it….my anxiety level always goes way up while waiting not-so-patiently for it to recharge.
Like cell phones there are essentially 2 places you can charge an EV to get you going or to maintain a certain feeling of security that you have enough juice:
There are commercial spots that you can charge your cell phone and EV
For cell phones there are those little secure charging stations at the mall that you can plug into while you shop.
For EV’s there are designated stations very close to the entrance way where you can plug your car into while you shop!
The other way to charge your cell phone and your car is to plug it in at home. Both cell phones and EVs come with their own cables to help you do so, but for EV’s you can also purchase a level 2 EV charger for your home. One unique feature to some of the new EV chargers is Smart Charging!
What is Smart Charging?
Smart Charging is where you can use another device (like your phone) to control when you charge your car and even potentially the rate at which you charge it.
Not all chargers have this nice app feature, but the high end VersiCharge definitely has this awesome feature!
Some of the features that this smart charging app has are:
Monitor your charging
Track your usage
If your app’s really cool it will even allow you to brag to friends through social media about just how environmentally friendly you are!
The best feature about smart charging is…
YOU CAN CONTROL WHEN YOU CHARGE YOUR CAR AT HOME!
If you live anywhere there is TOU (Time-Of-Use rates) this is really important. And if you live anywhere there isn’t TOU you should at least think about it potentially being applied to your area and mitigate the risk now.
Time-Of-Use rates basically say that when demand on the overall grid is high, the utility provider will charge you more for each kWh of electricity you use compared to off-peak or mid-peak times.
For Ontario as of Feb 23, 2021 this was:
8.5¢/kWh off-peak
11.9¢/kWh mid-peak
17.6¢/kWh on-peak
So that means to fully charge your EV at home:
When using Smart Charging technology this can save you over $200 per year by charging your EV during Off-Peak hours:
The smart charging feature will allow you to keep your car plugged in whenever you are home but you can decide when your car is charged! You can ensure your car only charges during off peak hours so that you maximize your savings!
While premium home EV chargers are typically a little more expensive upfront, it pays for itself. Between the base model and high end model of an EV charger like the VersiCharge, the cost differential to have this feature included is typically only $100-$200 more. This is negligible when you factor in the savings you get in your first year!
So next time you are debating what features you need in your EV charger I would highly recommend ensuring you get a charger that has Smart Charging so you can have a cool app to show off to your friends and save you money! Check out the other cool features of our Siemens VersiChargers like Bi-Directional charging!