Sustainable delayed charging as a solution to high energy prices

Home charging at a favorable price, not too slow, and sustainable charging too. Every EV driver wants that…

You can read 3 points here on how to achieve this through sustainable delayed charging.

The cheaper the electricity, the cheaper it is to drive as an EV user. That sounds logical, but it is quite a challenge these days. After all, electricity costs have risen enormously in recent months (early 2022). However, EV users do want to be able to charge at home, preferably not too slowly, and if possible, sustainably. Sounds appealing; we explain how you can achieve this by setting up sustainable delayed charging.

Point 1: Sustainable delayed charging is also good for your wallet.

Despite rising energy prices, there are certainly ways to charge relatively cheaply. Delayed charging Charging at night, for example, can be beneficial if you have standard and off-peak rates. If you charge primarily on weekends and during off-peak hours, this can easily save you 5-10 cents per kWh. Besides being good for your wallet, delayed or off-peak charging is also beneficial for the electricity grid and the environment. This is because it contributes to grid stabilization, and energy is demanded from power plants more evenly. Additionally, it may be wise to subscription to connect at a fast charger such as Fastned or Ionity. If the costs for fast charging (for example, 0.29 cents) are lower than home charging (0.35 cents), this can be a good alternative. It therefore remains a matter of calculation and weighing up whether you want to charge on the road or at home. This also applies to public charging stations on the street, which typically charge €0.35 per kWh. If your own energy contract charges more than that per kWh, public charging is therefore more economical.

Point 2: For delayed sustainable charging, plan carefully when your car needs to be fully charged.

Besides price, convenience and the desire for a charging point to be able to charge 'nice and fast' are wishes we often hear from customers. Requests are frequently made for a 22 kW charging point to enable faster charging and be ready for the future. However, what many customers forget is that a standard 3x25A household connection can deliver a maximum of 17 kW. That includes everything already running in the house, such as an oven, dishwasher, or TV. A standard home charging point can deliver at least 11 kW, often even 22 kW, and most EVs charge at a maximum of 11 kW. That is already a large chunk of this 17 kW. 22 kW therefore goes far beyond that. Aside from the fact that it is normally not possible (unless you have 3x50A at home, for example), we believe it is also unnecessary. After all, with 11 kW of power and an average battery capacity of 50 kWh in your EV, it can go from 1% to 100% in about 5 hours. This, combined with delayed (nighttime) charging, makes home charging a good solution. 

Point 3: Sustainable delayed charging with own solar power.

Solar panels require an initial investment, but as soon as they are switched on (and the sun shines more often than we think in the Netherlands), they generate electricity immediately. The cost per kWh of your own panels is only about 6 cents per kWh.

However, the desire to be future-proof, and often more self-sufficient as a result, remains with many of our customers. We therefore specifically advise focusing immediately on generating as much of your own electricity as possible. Solar panels are a perfect first step for that. Solar panels require an initial investment, but as soon as they are switched on (and the sun shines more often than we think in the Netherlands), they generate electricity immediately. The cost per kWh of your own panels is only about 6 cents per kWh.. With rising energy prices, it is not uncommon for your energy supplier to charge above 30 or 40 cents per kWh. So this 6 cents is a lot more attractive.  

Netting becomes simplified from 2023

You cannot always charge using your own solar panels. For example, because you are not there when the sun is shining, or are behind the clouds when you want to charge. That is why we have net metering in the Netherlands. A government scheme that allows you to feed the energy you do not use yourself into the grid during the summer, and then feed it back into the grid on grey days in the winter.can pick up for free. However, net metering is being scaled back starting in 2023, which means you will have to pay for this service, making it significantly less attractive. 

So it is time for a sustainable solution, especially after 2023. Invest in a home battery. A home battery is the size of two kitchen cabinets combined and can be placed outdoors. You store the solar power in this battery. An average house uses around 10 kWh per day, including the washing machine, kettle, lighting, etc. You store all electricity that is generated but not used here and can use it later to run your house or charge your car. This way, you are truly (more) self-sufficient.

Incidentally, having a home battery is already popular in countries like Germany, and this market is growing every year. From 2023 onwards, we also expect an increase in home batteries in the Netherlands. With one home battery, you can charge your home one to one and a half days let it run. So, it is not a solution to get through the entire winter on your own power, but it helps to absorb the peaks in your consumption and use your own power directly as much as possible.

Taking it a step further, there is also such a thing as '‘vehicle to load’ or '‘vehicle to home'. Which essentially means that the power from your car goes to a specific device like a vacuum cleaner, or to your home in general. This is still in its infancy in the Netherlands, but it is certainly promising and worth keeping an eye on. A car battery is easily 50 kWh in size and can hold more than 100 kWh. That means you can power your home for almost 1 to 2 weeks – considerably longer than your home battery.

In summary, Do you want to be able to charge sufficiently at home for a reasonable price and do so sustainably? This is certainly possible by focusing on delayed sustainable charging (you can read extensive tips on how to approach this in our FAQs) and making your home smartly sustainable. Solar panels are a good first step towards becoming (partially) self-sufficient. This way, you not only drive pleasantly but also sustainably.

ChargeMakers offers independent advice, sells, and installs the best-fitting charging points for every situation. We are happy to help customers on their way to an optimal, sustainable electric experience.