Things just keep getting better for New Yorkers. A few weeks ago, we reported on the introduction of New York’s $2,000 Drive Clean Rebate, which can be used towards the purchase or lease of a new electric vehicle (EV). Now, energy supplier Con Edison, together with tech developer FleetCarma, are inviting EV drivers to join their innovative, rewards-based charging program — SmartCharge New York.
What is SmartCharge New York?
SmartCharge New York is a program designed to help EV drivers reduce operating costs by incentivising off-peak charging. In turn, this will enhance electric grid efficiency, and keep electricity prices down.
SmartCharge New York is available to anyone who owns or leases an EV, and charges their vehicle in the Con Edison Service Territory in New York City, and Westchester County (select Queens and Westchester ZIP codes are not eligible). It is not necessary to be a Con Edison customer, and drivers can enroll multiple EVs in the program.
How Does SmartCharge New York Work?
- After your application is approved, you will receive a free, cellular-enabled, FleetCarma C2 device (Figure 1). Installation is fairly straightforward — the C2 plugs into your EV’s on-board diagnostics (OBD II) port, or Tesla diagnostics connector.
- Once connected, the C2 gathers information regarding EV charging patterns, driving style (i.e. how much of a lead foot you are), along with vehicle location, and uploads this information via the cellular network.
- From FleetCarma’s SmartCharge Rewards web portal, you will be able to access detailed information on driving efficiency, electric miles driven, carbon footprint, and battery state of charge by trip. Also, you’ll be able to monitor the health of your EV’s battery (both capacity fade and power fade).
- The web portal will also detail rewards earned, and will host an online community.
SmartCharge Rewards Explained
- You will receive $50 in SmartCharge Rewards after enrolling in SmartCharge New York and activating your C2.
- You then earn $5 in rewards each month by charging in the Con Edison Service Territory.
- $0.05/kWh in rewards can be earned for charging during off-peak hours (12 midnight–8 am) (Figure 2).
- By not charging your EV on weekdays between 2 pm–6 pm, during summer (June to September), you will earn a $20 monthly bonus (Figure 2).
- If you simply complete a survey, you can earn an additional $10 in SmartCharge Rewards.
- SmartCharge Rewards are calculated and auto-redeemed on the 15th of each month for the previous month’s charging.
To make things easier, many EVs can be set to start and stop charging at specified times. Further, some charging stations can also be programmed to start charging at a specified time.
SmartCharge Rewards — A Real World Example
Let’s consider a Chevy Bolt EV owner who only drives moderate distances (approx. 238 mi/383 km) every week. They would need to fully recharge the Bolt’s 60 kWh battery roughly once per week. If this charging was carried out during off-peak times, they could earn around $3 in SmartCharge Rewards.
Taking advantage of all the incentives on offer from SmartCharge New York, they could potentially earn around $350 worth of SmartCharge Rewards in the first year. If they were to drive double that distance (approx. 476 mi/766 km per week), recharging completely twice per week, they would rack up around $510 in rewards. Not bad for simply making smart charging decisions.
What Can I Use SmartCharge Rewards for?
SmartCharge Rewards will be redeemable in the form of e-gift cards and digital pre-paid cards from assorted retailers, including:
- Amazon.com
- Target
- REI (Recreational Equipment, Inc.)
- The Home Depot
- iTunes
- Starbucks
- Fandango
Or you can donate to nonprofits such as:
- Habitat for Humanity
- Clean Water Foundation
- The Nature Conservancy
When Does SmartCharge New York Begin?
SmartCharge New York will be rolled out in phases, with the 1st phase starting in early spring, 2017. If you are not accepted into the 1st phase, you will be offered enrollment later in the year. FleetCarma encourages interested parties to apply now to secure a spot in the 1st phase. FleetCarma say that they expect to eventually enroll thousands of EVs.
EV Charging — The Road Ahead
“We expect the number of electric vehicles to increase the next few years as drivers realise the economic and environmental benefits,” said Matthew Ketschke, Con Edison’s vice president, Distributed Resource Integration.
With more EVs taking to the road, energy suppliers need to start planning for the future, now. Programs like SmartCharge New York will enable collation of detailed information on the charging habits of EV drivers, guiding future investment in the energy supply ecosystem.
If owners of EVs are encouraged to juice up during off-peak periods, peak demand is reduced, thus minimising strain on the grid. Energy suppliers, therefore, do not have to invest as heavily into grid capacity, which keeps electricity prices down. It is a win-win situation for everybody, along with the environment.
Source: Con Edison, FleetCarma.