Optimise EV home charging with an eco-smart device

Since the boom in electric vehicles, arguably hailed in by the release of the Tesla Roadster in 2008, innovations in the market have come on leaps and bounds in recent years. With amazing improvements in battery technology to imaginative redesigns that effectively redistribute weight to protect road surfaces. 

Then there are the innovation wars to develop faster charging solutions and more efficient uses of energy. EV, by its very nature, is an exercise in efficiency and how energy can be managed for the biggest impact. Whose vehicle can go the furthest on one charge, which has the most powerful batteries with the least amount of weight and spent resources? While EV design does have some kinks to iron out in terms of making them inclusive for all drivers, the market has shown itself to be adept at problem solving.

Now this innovation has moved into the world of home charging solutions. Despite the obvious benefits of the EV revolution, there are also some worrying concerns, most importantly how the National Grid will cope with the increased demand. But as with all problems, there is a solution on the horizon.

An eco-smart solution

One of the main gripes with EVs lately has been the ever increasing cost of energy, which has driven the cost of public fast-charging up to almost the same level as petrol and diesel. Not only this, but there are legitimate concerns regarding acquisition of energy internationally, due to the continued conflict between Russia and Ukraine.

Moving away from dependence on the National Grid in order to power EVs is a smart solution, not only for energy efficiency but also for the management of energy worldwide. The modern world is already far too dependent on electricity and this demand only grows, so it is important to reduce this burden by any means necessary.

EVs were designed with the circular economy in mind, and one of the central tenets of this principle is that the manufacturing and running of products should produce little to no pollution. It is an unfortunate truth that a good percentage of electricity production is still created through the use of fossil fuels, which is why renewable solutions are going to be so valuable in the continued development of electric vehicles.

Luckily, both energy companies and technology providers have been working together to attempt to manage the problem of energy. Energy providers, such as Octopus, have implemented smart tariffs in order to make the best use of grid demand. While other providers like Wallbox have created bidirectional charging stations that allow homes to draw power from electric vehicles during peak times, allowing the EVs to recharge overnight when demand is lowest.

However, Wallbox and Zappi by MyEnergy, seek to take this solution one step further through the use of renewable energy generated in the user’s home. With the 82% reduction in the cost of solar panels over recent years, more UK homeowners than ever are installing solar panels. Eco-smart charging devices are able to run off both mains and renewable energy making them a smart future-forward investment to any property.

This technology has unlimited potential in the world of renewable energy and grid management. Not only can drivers become self-sufficient with their charging needs, but the more real-estate given to solar panels, and other renewable energy technologies, means more green energy can be fed back into the grid, reducing dependence on fossil fuels in the long term.