Smart Charging plans your EV’s charging based on your settings and the available electricity prices. In the StromNow app, you choose when you want to leave and the battery level you want to reach.
With a dynamic electricity tariff, StromNow can shift charging to lower-priced periods.
What do I need?
You need a supported vehicle or a supported home charger connected to StromNow. You do not necessarily need both connected.
We recommend connecting your vehicle whenever possible. StromNow uses the vehicle connection to optimise and control charging.
Setting up Smart Charging
1. Connect your vehicle or home charger
Open the Home Charging section of the StromNow app and connect your supported vehicle or home charger.
2. Add your electricity tariff
Add your electricity tariff. If you have a dynamic tariff, changing electricity prices can be taken into account when planning your charging.
With a fixed electricity price, moving charging to a different time does not, by itself, reduce the price you pay per kWh.
3. Set your minimum charge level
You can find the minimum charge level setting in the Home Charging section.
If your battery is below this level, your vehicle first charges immediately until it reaches it. Smart Charging then takes over planning the remaining charge.
We recommend a minimum charge level of 20%. This provides an initial charge while leaving the remaining charging to be planned intelligently. If you need more range straight away, you can adjust the setting accordingly.
Important: If you set the minimum charge level to 80%, your vehicle charges immediately up to 80%. This part of the charging session is not shifted to lower-priced periods.
4. Set your target charge level and departure time
Separately, set the following in the StromNow app:
The battery level you want to reach.
The time you want your vehicle to be ready.
For example: 80% battery level by 08:00 tomorrow.
The target charge level is separate from the minimum charge level. You can therefore set a minimum of 20% and a target of 80%.
5. Enable Smart Charging and plug in your vehicle
Enable Smart Charging and plug in your vehicle. StromNow plans the remaining charge using your settings and the available electricity price data.
A charging pause may be part of the plan: your vehicle may wait for a suitable charging period.
An example
You plug in your vehicle with a battery level of 15%. Your minimum charge level is 20%, your target is 80%, and your departure time is 08:00.
Your vehicle first charges immediately from 15% to 20%.
Smart Charging then takes over planning the remaining charge.
Charging towards your target is scheduled with your departure time and the available electricity prices in mind.
If your battery is already above 20% when you plug in, the initial charge to the minimum level is not needed.
I need to leave earlier. Can I charge immediately?
Yes. At the bottom of the Home Charging section, you will find the button for immediate charging.
Using it overrides the current Smart Charging plan, allowing your vehicle to continue charging immediately instead of waiting for the scheduled charging period.
Does Smart Charging always save money?
A specific saving cannot be guaranteed. It depends on factors such as your electricity tariff, price differences, charging needs and the time available before departure.
The more energy you charge immediately to reach your minimum charge level, the less charging remains for Smart Charging to schedule.