As batteries advance and urbanization increases, customer demand is beginning to shift in favor of electrified vehicles.

The success of EVs, however, relies upon a new kind of infrastructure to support the vehicles: home energy storage, rooftop solar PV systems, and smart home technology like “intelligent charging” systems.

James Karavakis, Mercedes-Benz Energy Americas, Business Development

In our most recent webinar titled Preparing the Energy Grid for Electrified and Autonomous Vehicles, a reader asks James Karavakis from Mercedes-Benz Energy Americas:

“What is ‘Intelligent Charging?'’’

Read Karavakis’ edited response below.

Karavakis: Intelligent Charging conveys an instance where either a charging station or a vehicle has access to an external API, like a utility, and receives signals to begin charging, lower the charging rate, or cease charging, depending on the needs of the grid. So, it allows for a dynamic use of the charging station and the charging activity, to provide some demand response function or another benefit to the utility.

We’re already seeing this today. Customers who are on EV Time-of-Use (TOU) rates can program a time to be charging when they’re home. You can basically specify “Between the hours of 2 and 6 pm, do not charge,” because you know that’s when your on-peak rate is going to be.

There’s some of that intelligence [already], and there’s room for it to grow, to make electric vehicle charging more dispatchable and dynamic.

What do you think about “Intelligent Charging” and the growing demand for electric vehicles? Share your thoughts below.

Watch the full presentation: Preparing the Energy Grid for Electrified and Autonomous Vehicles.