Smart charging means that an electric car is not charged immediately and at maximum power when you plug it in, but that charging is ’smart‘ – planned and controlled. The car is then charged at times when that’s better: cheaper, cleaner, or better for the power grid.
The big advantage of electric cars is that they stand still most of the time. The average car is parked 95% of the time. And precisely because cars stand still so much, there is time to choose when to charge. That choice can make a big difference.
Why smart charging?
There are three main reasons to charge smartly:
1. Save money
Electricity prices vary throughout the day. At times when there is a lot of solar or wind energy, electricity is cheaper. Sometimes you even get paid to consume electricity. By charging at those cheap times, you can save hundreds of euros per year.
2. Charge greener
When the sun shines and the wind blows, electricity is not only cheaper but also cleaner. By charging at those times, you use more renewable energy and emit less CO2.
3. Relieve the power grid
The power grid in the Netherlands is full. At peak times there is sometimes not enough capacity. Smart charging helps by charging especially when there is space on the grid. This prevents power outages and makes expensive grid reinforcement less necessary.
How does smart charging work?
For smart charging you need:
- An electric car
- A charging station (at home or public)
- Software that controls the charging (like the Stekker app)
- Optionally: a dynamic energy contract with hourly rates
The software looks at various factors:
- When do you need the car? (your departure time)
- How full is the battery now?
- What are the electricity prices in the coming hours?
- When does the sun shine / wind blow?
- How busy is the power grid?
Based on that information, the software makes a charging schedule. The car is then charged at the best times – and waits when that’s smarter.
You don’t notice it: when you need the car, it’s simply full. But in the background the charging has been distributed smartly over time.
Smart charging at home
At home you have the most control. With your own charging station and the Stekker app, you can charge completely automatically at the cheapest and greenest times.
You indicate in the app when you want to leave, and the software does the rest. The car charges mainly at night (when electricity is cheap) and when the sun shines (when your solar panels produce).
Smart charging on the street
At public charging stations, smart charging works slightly differently. You have less control yourself, but many charging station operators are working on smart solutions.
With the Stekker app you can also charge smartly at compatible public charging stations. The app helps you find the cheapest times and locations.
The future: even smarter
Smart charging is becoming increasingly smarter. In the future cars will not only consume electricity smartly, but can also return it to the grid when needed. That’s called V2G (Vehicle-to-Grid) or bidirectional charging.
Then your car becomes a kind of battery for the power grid. You charge when there is surplus solar and wind energy, and sell back when electricity is scarce and expensive.
But even without that: smart charging already works today and saves money, CO2 and helps the power grid.
Want to get started with smart charging? Download the Stekker app and start charging smarter today.
