Charging a car seems simple. Yet there are all kinds of cost-saving things you can do that you might not immediately think of. In this article we explain how to save money while charging.
1. Smart Charging
"Smart" charging points can do a lot, including charging during off-peak hours. While you sleep and electricity is cheap, the charging point will decide to charge and always ensure it's exactly full by the time you head to work in the morning.
You can also set this up yourself for an optimal charging curve.
2. Vehicle to Grid (V2G)
With Vehicle to Grid it's possible to use your car as a battery via the charging point. When electricity is cheap, the car charges. As soon as electricity is expensive, part of the consumption is absorbed by the electric car.
This is especially useful if you have solar panels - your car becomes an extension of your home battery!
3. Avoid Public Charging
Electric driving is cheaper, right? Yes and no. Try to charge as much as possible with your own charging point and avoid public charging points.
Your home electricity: ~€0.19 per kWh Public AC charging: ~€0.30-€0.35 per kWh Public DC fast charging: ~€0.65 per kWh (almost as expensive as petrol!)
If you do need to charge publicly, there are many charging point maps available where you can usually see the costs beforehand.
4. Make Your Charger Public
This is possible if you have a backoffice subscription with your charging point. Your charging point will appear on all maps and you can set your own charging price.
Note: This typically requires a monthly subscription of around €6 per month, but can generate passive income if you're in a good location.
5. Future-Proofing
If you choose the cheapest option when purchasing, you might be making a mistake. Here's why:
- You can't use Smart Charging, V2G, or public placement features
- Many current EVs have lower power capacity, but future cars will all support 32A/3F
- A basic, less powerful charging point will need replacing sooner
- Replacement means new purchase AND installation costs
Be prepared for the future!
Bonus: Service Subscription
Almost all manufacturers offer 2 years warranty, but do charge travel costs if they need to fix problems for you. That's why it's useful to choose a service subscription where problems can be identified and sometimes even solved remotely.
This usually costs around €2-€3 per month. If you take out a backoffice subscription, the service subscription is usually included.
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