How to charge your electric car smart

The safest, easiest and most economical way to charge your electric car is via a home charging station. But are you charging smart enough?

According to “Elbilisten 2021” (Norway’s largest survey of electric car owners, conducted on behalf of the Norwegian Electric Vehicle Association), 77 per cent of Norwegian electric car drivers have a charging station at home. Investing in a charging station provides better fire safety, a simpler everyday life and lower costs over time. Home charging stations are also recommended by the Directorate for Civil Protection (DSB).

Smart charging avoids power peaks

With smart charging, your electric car charges when electricity is cheapest, and at those times of the day when electricity consumption is low. The price of electricity increases when many people use electricity at the same time. That’s why electricity is usually most expensive in the morning (when everyone is making coffee, showering and getting ready for the day) and in the afternoon (when everyone comes home and starts making dinner). The electricity price is usually at its lowest in the middle of the night.

Charging your battery wisely

In order for the battery in your electric car to last as long as possible, the voltage in the battery should be kept relatively stable.  The battery will be happiest with a charge level of between 20 and 80 per cent. Don’t fully discharge the battery too often, and avoid letting your car sit around with a full battery for long periods of time. This may result in reduced battery capacity.

In general, it is recommended that you “trickle charge”, i.e., charge a little every now and then.

What is a smart charger?

With a smart charger such as Zaptec Go, you can monitor charging and control both the output and the time. When you activate smart charging in the associated app, your electric car will automatically charge when the power is cheapest. This saves you money and means you don’t need to physically plug in and unplug the charging cable. It also reduces pressure on the power system.

Forward-thinking

With a smart charger, you’re also equipped for your future charging needs and avoid having to replace your home charger if these needs change. With Zaptec Go, you can instal up to three charging stations in the same building, so that several electric cars can charge at the same time. Since the charger is always connected to the internet, it will automatically update to include the latest features and updates.