Want to save on the charging costs of your electric car? That's easier than you think! As the popularity of electric vehicles increases, the question also arises of how to minimize operational costs, mainly those of charging. In this article we give you 5 ways to charge your car cheaply – both at home and on the road.
Cheap charging at home
1. Use dynamic electricity prices
Dynamic energy contracts are very interesting when you drive electrically.
A smart charging station such as the Loxone Wallbox can follow the prices of the spot market (the short-term energy market). Electricity prices fluctuate widely. They depend on supply and demand and when there is a lot of demand, the price rises. And vice-versa.
Via the Spot Price Optimizer With Loxone you benefit optimally from dynamic electricity prices. Fill the battery of your electric car when energy is cheap. And that completely automatically!
An example from practice:
Suppose the price differences on a day look like this:
- Peak hours: €0.31/kWh
- Off-peak hours: €0.18/kWh
You want to charge a Tesla Model “Y” with a battery capacity of 75 kWh from 20% to 80%. So you will charge a total of 45 kWh. At a charging speed (1-phase) of 3.7 kWh you need approximately 12 hours for this.
- Charging for 12 hours at €0.31/kWh costs €3.72
- Charging for 12 hours at €0.18/kWh COSTS €2.16
If we charge three times a week, this equates to a monthly saving of €18.72 or €224.64 annually. Simply by charging at the right time.
2. Charge via solar panels
Would you like to charge your electric car for free? That is possible, at least if you have solar panels. In a Loxone smart home, your PV installation and charging station work perfectly together.
Send all energy produced to your car or set priorities. For example, it is possible to first buffer heat in the boiler tank of your heat pump and start the washing machine, and fill your car battery with the surplus.
With the help of a home battery you can benefit even more from this free electricity. If you drive your car to work during the day, the energy from the solar panels is stored in the home battery. When you get home, you simply have to plug in the plug at your charging station. Loxone's energy manager automatically sends electricity from the home battery to your car.
Cheap charging on the go
3. Compare charging stations and charging cards
Unfortunately, it is impossible to always charge at home. For longer journeys you sometimes have to stop at a public charging station.
To charge cheaply on the road, we recommend comparing charging stations and charging cards. There are sometimes large price differences. With one you only pay €0.50/kWh, and with the other €0.75/kWh.
Important to know: the cost sometimes depends on the charging speed. Fast chargers are often more expensive than regular charging stations.
4. Affordable charging at work
Do you have an electric commercial vehicle? Many employers are installing charging stations in the company car park to support this e-mobility transition. Maybe you can charge here for free, or at a cheaper rate.
Tip: ask your employer whether it is possible to charge the costs of home charging.
5. Free charging while shopping
More and more companies see charging as a commercial asset. Retail chains such as IKEA, Lidl and McDonald's install free charging stations at their branches. It's a way to attract customers.
Restaurants and hotel operators also know the benefits. It is one of the reasons why EV drivers choose a certain location.
Charge your electric car cheaply with Loxone?
Learn more about the Loxone Wallbox or find a Loxone Partner in your area to install a charging point at your home or business.
Nederlands