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    What is smart charging?

    Let’s address the question in everyone’s search history… what’s smart charging? And what makes it so smart?

    In a nutshell, smart charging is the intelligent way to charge electric vehicles (EVs) at home. It uses advanced technology and data to make the most of charging times to save you money and lessen the strain on the electrical grid. 

    By constantly assessing energy prices, grid demand, and the availability of energy from renewable sources (e.g. wind, solar etc), smart charging ensures efficient and sustainable charging for your EV. And it does all this while contributing to a greener future.

    Let’s have a good look at smart charging.

    How does smart charging work?

    Smart charging really is smart! Get the best value for money when you charge your EV.

    When you have an at-home EV charger, it normally runs off the grid at your standard energy tariff. Smart charging is when you make the most of low-energy times to balance the grid, and get cheaper energy, making the running costs of being an EV owner much lower. Smart charging tends to happen overnight, so that the system can make the most of low-cost and off-peak energy.

    The technology behind smart charging

    Smart charging relies on some clever hardware and software working together. 

    Intelligent charging points communicate with the EV, the power grid, and a central management system. This enables the real-time data exchange about energy prices, grid demand, and renewable energy availability. 

    Algorithms then optimise charging schedules based on these factors, to make sure the EV gets the most efficient and cost-effective charging possible. While keeping the strain on the grid to a minimum.

    The different ways to charge your EV at home

    There are three fundamental types of home EV charging:

    🧑‍🎓 Smart charging: Optimises energy use by adjusting charging rates based on grid demand, electricity prices, and user preferences. It helps reduce your electricity bill and the load on the grid.

    🏃‍➡️ Fast charging: Quickly charges EVs with direct current (DC) fast chargers. Typically recharges an EV to 80% in 30 minutes.

    ↔️ Bidirectional charging: Charges EVs, and discharges power back to the grid or home, to help with energy storage and grid stability (more below).

    Smart energy management for EV charging

    The way energy is stored and distributed to the EV charging points that allow for smart charging is really clever too. By using advanced technologies, it’s designed to charge dynamically, making the most of the availability and price of energy from minute to minute and hour to hour.

    The smart, or dynamic, energy management system includes: 

    ⚖️ Dynamic load balancing: Distributes power evenly across the different charging stations to prevent overloads (see next section).

    📈 Dynamic pricing: Adjusts charging costs based on real-time electricity prices.

    🌳 Renewable integration: Identifies and uses renewable power sources to make sure your EV gets green energy.

    😎 User control: Gives drivers control over their charging schedules and energy usage. Helping make life easier and saving you money.

    What are the key features of smart charging systems?

    There are lots of next-gen features that go into a smart charging system

    Dynamic load balancing

    As just mentioned, dynamic load balancing is defined as ‘the distribution of electrical power across multiple charging stations’. It ensures that the electricity that’s available is shared efficiently, preventing overloads and making the most of existing infrastructure. 

    It does all this by cleverly adjusting the charging rate of each connected EV – all in real-time. This helps avoid peak demand issues and reduces the need for costly grid upgrades, which results in a more stable, efficient, and cost-effective charging network. This is why smart charging is generally an overnight process, and slower than a usual, steady charge.

    Power sharing and power boost

    Power sharing allows multiple EVs to charge at the same time from a single power source by distributing the energy among the vehicles evenly. This makes it more efficient and ensures they all receive a charge. 

    Power boost, on the other hand, temporarily increases the charging power for an individual EV, when the overall demand is low. This substantially speeds up the charging process for that one car. 

    Together, power sharing and power boost optimise charging times and ensure a more flexible and efficient use of available power resources. If you have several EVs at home, it’s worth exploring these options to keep your cars topped up at a favourable cost to you.

    Solar panels and vehicle-2-grid

    Something else smart charging systems can do is integrate with home solar lpanel systems (e.g. solar panels on houses’ roofs) which convert sunlight into electrical energy. This allows vehicles to be charged using renewable energy, reducing reliance on the grid and lowering carbon footprints. 

    V2G is a system that powers bi-directional charging, which was mentioned before. People can set up a V2G system in their home and it lets their EV push the stored up energy in its battery back onto the electrical grid. This enhances grid stability, provides backup power and supports a more sustainable energy ecosystem, and maximises the benefits of both renewable energy sources and electric vehicle technologies.

    The benefits of smart charging

    It goes without saying, smart charging has innumerable benefits if you’re conscious of your energy usage and costs. For EV owners, power companies, and the environment, it’s the future.

    For EV owners

    Owning an EV not only helps make life easier, it saves money too. This is because using smart charging at home is almost always cheaper than refuelling with petrol or diesel. Taking advantage of lower electricity rates during off-peak hours is a huge win after years of inflation and energy rate increases. 

    Charging your car at home or at work is really convenient too. It means no more frequent trips to the petrol station to fill up. Plus, driving an EV, with its single-speed transmission and instant torque, makes for a more relaxing driving experience. Although EVs come at a higher cost than ICE vehicles, if you can afford to go green, you’ll feel the benefits immediately.

    For the grid

    Smart charging is also great for the national grid. As we said, it enhances grid stability and efficiency, and enables dynamic load balancing, which helps prevent grid overloads during peak demand periods. 

    And as mentioned, V2G allows EVs to discharge power back into the grid, acting as distributed energy storage. That means you can sell the power you generate back into the grid! This capability supports grid stability, reduces the need for additional power plants, and improves the overall efficiency of the energy distribution network.

    For the environment

    EVs play a crucial role in supporting renewable energy sources and reducing carbon emissions. Fact.

    By integrating EV charging with solar PV systems, EVs can be powered by clean, renewable energy. V2G technology further supports this by enabling EVs to store excess renewable energy and discharge it back into the grid when needed. 

    These both help balance energy supply and demand. It promotes the use of green energy, and contributes to a more sustainable future too.

    Imagine the feeling of powering your home and your EV (partially or fully) by solar panels – for those who can afford it, it’s a clear step into the future.

    FAQs

    What’s the difference between smart charging and normal charging?

    Smart charging optimises charging times and rates based on grid demand, electricity prices, and user preferences. This enhances efficiency and reduces costs. Normal charging lacks these features. It simply provides a consistent power flow without adjusting for external factors or user needs. Smart charging is something you can set up at home, and generally benefit from overnight. You may still need to top up with rapid or fast charging, which doesn’t have the benefits of dynamic pricing.

    Do you have to pay to charge an EV?

    Yes. You generally have to pay to charge an EV, whether at home or at public charging stations. However, smart charging can reduce costs by optimising charging times to take advantage of lower electricity rates during off-peak hours.

    What’s the difference between smart and non-smart EV chargers?

    Smart EV chargers offer features like remote control, scheduling, and dynamic load balancing to optimise charging efficiency and cost. Non-smart chargers provide basic charging functions without these advanced capabilities. They deliver a constant power flow without considering external factors or user preferences.

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