The burning questions from our smart charging webinar with Stekker

Our experts, Erik de Bruin, Co-founder of Stekker and Leon Hemrika, Sales Engineer at Road shared a great deal of information, but the Q&A session raised even more specific points.

We'll cover a range of themes, including the costs & savings you can realise, the convenience & control you retain, the technology & implementation behind smart charging solutions, and the broader impact & future of intelligent charging.

Costs & savings

• Question 1: How much can I actually save with smart charging, and does it depend on my energy contract?

Erik: "That's a very relevant question! The savings from smart charging can be substantial and depends on a few factors. If you have a dynamic energy contract, our system charges your car when electricity prices are at their lowest, sometimes even when they are negative! If you have solar panels, we optimise charging to coincide with your own solar production, reducing your need for expensive grid power. This not only lowers your direct energy costs but can also deliver additional financial benefits through programs like renewable fuel units, in the Netherlands these are referred to as 'HBEs'."

When you can prove you're charging with your own solar power these benefits are unlocked. The exact savings vary, but the potential is definitely significant.

• Question 2: Are there extra costs associated with using Stekker's smart charging features via the Road platform?

Leon: "That's a good point for clarifying the overall cost. Stekker's smart charging functionality is an advanced service. Depending on the selected service package, there may be subscription fees for the Road platform and Stekker's services. However, the fundamental premise is that the savings generated by smarter charging, such as lower energy bills and avoiding peak load fees, are designed to far outweigh these service costs. Our goal is to keep the total cost of charging your EV as low as possible."

Ease of use & control

• Question 3: I don't want a lot of hassle. Do I need to manually change my smart charging settings every day?

Erik: "Absolutely not! Convenience is the fundamental principle of smart charging. The system works intelligently in the background. You set your core preferences one time, such as your departure time and minimum battery level, then the system handles the rest, automatically optimising your charging sessions. Most users hardly need to alter their routine: just plug in, and the software does the rest. While the app provides the ability to make adjustments, it's only an option, not a daily requirement."

• Question 4: What happens if I have an unexpected trip and my car isn't fully charged due to the smart charging schedule?

Erik: "That's a key concern, and we understand it completely. This is why you always retain full control. Through the Stekker app, you can easily override the smart charging plan for any session and instruct the system to charge your car immediately and as fast as possible. The system will then pause its optimisation and prioritise a direct charge. This ensures you always have a full battery when you need one, without sacrificing the benefits of smart charging at other times."

Technology & implementation

• Question 5: Does smart charging work with any charging station and any type of electric car?

Answer from Leon & Erik: Leon: "Our Road platform is hardware-agnostic, meaning we communicate with a broad array of charging station brands that adhere to open standards like OCPP (Open Charge Point Protocol). This gives you significant flexibility when choosing a charging station."

Erik: "Precisely, and Stekker builds upon that foundation. Most modern stations available through Road support the 'smart charging profiles' within OCPP, which enables our software to steer the charging station. The intelligence lies primarily in the communication between our software and the station. While direct communication with the vehicle itself (for things like exact battery status) isn't always standard yet, it's improving. By using machine learning and historical data, we can already create highly accurate charging plans, regardless of your EV's make or model."

• Question 6: How long does it take for the smart charging system to be 'trained' and work optimally?

Erik: "The beauty of it is that you often see the benefits right away! Core optimisations, like charging based on dynamic energy prices or respecting your grid connection's limits, function immediately. The system's 'training' or 'learning' to better predict your specific charging patterns or your car's behaviour is a continuous process. This leads to further refinement over time, but the main advantages are generally available from day one. You won't have to wait weeks to experience the effects of smart charging."

The broader impact & the future

• Question 7: Does my individual smart charging behaviour truly help to ease the strain on the grid?

Erik: "It certainly does! Every car that charges smarter contributes. In the webinar, we discussed 'load shifting,' which is the practice of moving energy demand to times when there's an abundance of (green) power and low overall demand. This is more effective than 'load balancing' (which just spreads power out within a peak period). When many EV drivers do this, the peak demand on the grid is reduced considerably. This assists grid operators, prevents overload, and facilitates the integration of more renewable energy. Your choice is very much part of a bigger, positive transformation."

We hope these answers have given you greater insight into the power and advantages of smart charging. This technology doesn't just benefit your wallet and convenience; it also contributes to a more sustainable energy future.

Continue following us here for the next blog in this series on the impact of smart charging on energy tariffs and your bill.

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