Fact or fiction? 5 myths about smart charging debunked

Welcome to part five of our blog series, following our webinar with Stekker! We've already taken a deep dive into the benefits of smart charging for your wallet as well as the profound contribution it has on the environment.

New technology, however, often comes with questions and misconceptions, leading to confusion and insecurity. Therefore, it's time to address some of the most common myths about smart charging and separate the fact from the fiction.

1. "I don't want to lose the control over my car when it charges "

The reality: This might be the most common concern, but the opposite is actually true. As expert Erik de Bruin of Stekker highlighted in the webinar, you always retain complete control. While the system automatically selects the most cost-effective and efficient times to charge, you can easily set your preferences in the Stekker app. Have to leave unexpectedly? A single tap of a button instructs your car to start charging immediately. You are always in charge; the technology is there to assist you, not to take over.

2. "Smart charging is just far too complicated and technical"

The reality: While the technology that powers smart charging is certainly advanced, using it has been specifically designed to be as simple as possible. Erik summed it up perfectly: your daily routine remains unchanged. You plug in your car, use your charge card, and walk away. All the complex optimization occurs completely in the background. You don't need to be a tech expert to reap the rewards.

3. "Starting and stopping the charge repeatedly is bad for my battery."

The reality: This is a common and understandable concern. However, a smart charging system is actually designed to manage your battery responsibly. The software communicates with the charging station to create a controlled process that is far "gentler" on the battery than simply charging at maximum power without regulation. Additionally, modern electric vehicles are equipped with an advanced battery management system (BMS) that safeguards the battery. Ultimately, intelligent and managed charging is better for your battery's lifespan than subjecting it to constant, unpredictable power peaks.

4. "Smart charging is only beneficial for people with solar panels or a dynamic energy contract."

The reality: While it's true that solar panels or a dynamic contract unlock the maximum financial benefits, smart charging is valuable for everybody. As we've covered in previous blog posts, it also helps reduce your monthly peak load, or your capacity fee, resulting in lower fixed costs on your energy bill. Beyond that, every person who uses smart charging contributes to a more stable electricity grid, which is essential for the energy transition and benefits all of us.

5. "My charging station probably isn't smart or modern enough for this."

The reality: You might be surprised by just how wide the compatibility is. Leon Hemrika of Road explained that the E-Flux by Road platform is "hardware agnostic," meaning it works with hundreds of different models of charging stations. The key requirement is that the station supports the open standard OCPP (Open Charge Point Protocol), which is true for nearly all modern chargers. Therefore, there's a very good chance that your charge point is already prepared for a smart future.

The truth? Smart charging is surprisingly accessible

As you've seen, many concerns about smart charging are rooted in misconceptions. The reality is that modern smart charging solutions, such as those from Road and Stekker, are engineered to be flexible, user-friendly, safe for your battery, and widely compatible. It’s a smart step forward for every EV driver.

Continue following us here! In the next blog in this series, we'll focus specifically on the advantages of smart charging for commercial fleets.

Want to get the full context? You can watch the full webinar recording right here. (Please be aware that original audio is in Dutch. Turn captions on to enjoy in English)