New results from a smart EV charging pilot program, funded by a California Energy Commission initiative and implemented in partnership with MCE and Silicon Valley Clean Energy, highlight the significant potential of dynamic price signals in optimizing electric vehicle charging.
MCE and Silicon Valley Clean Energy are California community choice aggregators.
Developed and powered by ev.energy, ChargeWise California's first phase tested how dynamic pricing and active managed charging can improve grid stability, lower energy costs, and boost renewable energy use in California.
The pilot's findings highlight that dynamic price signals, when combined with automated charging management, offer a substantial improvement in managing EV charging compared to traditional Time-of-Use rates, ev.energy said.
This approach achieved up to 98% EV charging load delivered off-peak, significantly outperforming the 60-70% typically achieved by TOU rates alone, or the 90% achieved by combining TOU with managed charging programs, ev.energy said.
“The ChargeWise California pilot shows a major win for dynamic pricing in EV charging, dramatically improving load optimization over standard time-of-use methods,” it said.
Initial insights from ChargeWise California are:
A Dynamic Approach Outperforms Time-of-Use for EV Loads
Dynamic grid integration with managed charging marks a major leap beyond traditional TOU pricing, delivering up to 98% of EV load at off-peak times through hourly price signals and active control.
By aligning charging with cheaper, cleaner energy like midday solar, ChargeWise California saved customers $10–20/month and shifted up to 30% of charging to solar-rich hours. It also smoothed demand by avoiding the secondary peaks (sometimes called “timer peak” or “snapback peak”) often triggered by rigid TOU schedules.
Lower Bills for Everyone
Dynamic pricing can already save EV drivers around $200 per year by cutting energy costs, but it can also benefit utility customers who do not drive EVs by lowering total system costs. ev.energy estimates aligning rates with grid-wide and local distribution signals will unlock over $1,000+ in annual system value per EV.
Phase 2 of ChargeWise California will see ev.energy partnering with utilities to tap into the full value of flexible charging.
Dynamic Rates Are Not Equitable at the Whole-Home Level
Not all customer loads can respond to a dynamic price. Applying dynamic rates to all customer load risks repelling customers without the full suite of flexible tech like home batteries, solar, and EVs, increasing cost for those less able to shift usage.
The submetering solution developed through ChargeWise California provided targeted incentives for customers to dynamically optimize their EV load, acting as an “add-on” to their standard rate. This “rate add-on” or “type-of-use” approach ensured equity and resulted in high participation, with 1,000+ customers enrolled in 2 months, and over 50% living in disadvantaged communities.
Programs Amplify the Impact of Rates
Dynamic rates unlock participant and system value only when paired with smart, customer-focused programs. This initiative saw the dynamic pricing integrated into MCE and SVCE’s managed charging program. Combining dynamic pricing with automation and clear customer engagement makes participation easier, reveals value for both customers and the grid, and drives greater system-wide impact.
