Although it’s still a better financial decision to drive electric, Australians alone are now paying as much as 25% more for electricity than they were just a year ago.

While rising fuel costs have been a large factor in the adoption of electric cars and plug-in hybrids, EV owners who don’t yet have access to solar at home are now paying significantly more to charge their cars than ever before.

The EV charger you use at home can cut your charging costs in half – while doubling the lifespan of your EV battery.

How? Charge scheduling with a smart charger. EV owners with a smart EV charger at home can quickly and easily set their chargers on an off-peak-only charge schedule.

Off-peak rates are generally half that of peak electricity rates. Smart EV chargers allow users to schedule when their EV charges and the type of power the charger uses – meaning you can elect to never pay peak electricity tariffs to charge your electric car ever again.

Across Australia for example, peak electricity rates range from 30 to 40 cents per kilowatt-hour (kWh), while off-peak rates are significantly lower at 9 to 18 cents per kWh. What this means, is that charging the average electric car in Australia will cost you around $28 per charge on peak tariffs, while charging it on off-peak-only tariffs will tear it right down to just under $12 AUD. Off-peak hours are also typically between 10 PM and 6 AM depending on where you live. This means that not only does your smart charger pay for itself while you sleep, but you also have the convenience of waking up each day to an optimally charged EV.

If you have a TeltoCharge smart charger installed, you should form a habit of plugging the cable into your car each time you park.

Using your TeltoCharge mobile app, you can set a rule on when to charge and/or when not to charge based on the off-peak hours in your area. Your smart charger will not begin charging your EV until the scheduled times, ensuring you make the most of off-peak savings.

If you need your car to charge right away for any reason, you can simply switch off the scheduling feature while it's not needed. Your car will then begin charging normally immediately.

It also gives TeltoCharge users visibility on when their car is charging, how long for, and how much energy it’s using. This is game-changing for EV and hybrid drivers, helping them to understand exactly how much power they’re using without needing to wait for the energy bill to arrive.

As electricity prices continue their ascent worldwide, it’s important now more than ever for us to adopt the technology that we have at our disposal, saving our time, money, and the planet we live on.

Off-peak charging is a powerful strategy that enables EV drivers all over the world to halve the cost of charging their electric vehicles, even without home solar panels.

By embracing this approach, not only can you enjoy substantial financial savings, but you also contribute to a more sustainable energy future by reducing the load on the grid during peak hours.

If you’re interested in this solution or would like to find a TeltoCharge supplier near you, get in touch with your local Teltonika Energy team.