As the world continues to address the issue of climate change, electric vehicles (EVs) are becoming increasingly popular options for people looking for more sustainable transportation solutions.
Electric vehicles and smart charging go hand in hand
One of the biggest challenges of the utility grid is how we can accommodate such a drastic amount of new electricity consumption when thousands and thousands of EVs replace the old gasoline and diesel vehicles. We must ensure they are charged efficiently and sustainably, preferably during low-electricity demand hours.
Smart charging is a crucial part of this process, as it allows electric vehicles to be charged in a way that reduces the amount of carbon dioxide (CO2) they emit, mainly during the nighttime. This blog addresses ways electric vehicle smart charging can reduce CO2 emissions and help balance the grid.
What is Electric Vehicle Smart Charging?
Electric vehicle smart charging is an automated process that allows EVs to be charged in an energy-efficient way. Smart charging considers various factors, such as vehicle type, battery capacity, and charging times, and uses this information to determine when and how to charge the vehicle to reduce energy consumption and CO2 emissions.
By joining Synergi, you can tap into all the benefits of smart charging. Using our smart charging, one of our first users recently saved up to 100€+ in less than two months!
Benefits of Smart Charging
Smart charging has a multitude of different benefits. Firstly, it allows EVs to charge when electricity is available from renewable sources, such as wind and nuclear, and solar in the summer.
A study conducted in 2022 found that optimized charging could result in the equivalent of ≈400 kilograms of carbon dioxide saved per vehicle annually. This depends significantly on where you live and the typical energy mix. In Finland, for example, you can see the CO2 intensity of the grid changes a lot from day to day and from hour to hour.
By just looking at the image below, we can see that the grid CO2 intensity ranged from 40g CO2 /kWh to over 110g CO2 / kWh. If you had charged your car full (let’s assume its battery is 50 kWh) with 40g instead of 110g, you would’ve saved 3.5kg of CO2 only with one Smart Charging session!
Secondly, it is good for your wallet as you pay less for the same electricity than you would’ve paid if you would’ve just instantly charged. This naturally applies only to households with a spot-priced contract, but if you have an EV and fixed-price contract, seriously consider changing to spot-price to benefit from the cheap hours. Finally, it takes away manual labor and worries about electricity prices. Sleep your nights tightly; Synergi will care for your EV charging.
Conclusion
Electric vehicle smart charging is essential to making the transportation industry more sustainable. Smart charging can help reduce emissions by allowing EVs to charge when renewable energy sources are available, as well as saving you a hefty sum of money. Finally, smart charging is vital for reducing CO2 emissions from electric vehicles and should be considered by all EV owners.
Synergi’s app allows you to optimize your electricity consumption when it’s cheapest and produced from sustainable energy sources without additional hardware. Getting started with Synergi happens in three easy steps:
- Log in and link: Start with Synergi by linking your devices (EVs, heat pumps, or solar panels). No extra hardware is needed* – it’s as easy as it gets!
- Set up your preferences: With Synergi, you’re in control. Set your preferences for smart charging, set usage limits for home heating & cooling systems, and others!
- Enjoy the savings: With Synergi, you can reduce your energy bills without lifting a finger. Sit back and enjoy the savings while our platform optimizes your electricity consumption to happen when it makes sense.
*Some heating & cooling units might require an additional air conditioning controller.
