Switching to Chargepoint

[NW Ontario Ford Lightning]

Choice 3 works out best if you have an EV. Bonus if you can run other heavy items after 11 pm, so we usually use the electric clothes dryer overnight. The oven's use is usually dictated by meals, but running the self cleaning cycle can be done overnight.

And if you added a battery-inverter system (don't even need any solar) your oven would run anytime you like, but be powered by the battery that charges over-night.

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[chl]

Our utility, Dominion Energy or whatever they are calling it at the moment, has a special program where they can control the EVSE and limit it to 3 or 4 models, not the FCSP.

However, they also have a time of day program I signed up for years ago called EV Plus Home. It was originally a pilot program but it has been on auto-pilot for many years it seems: "Residential (Schedule 1EV)" is what my bill still calls it.

The details of the current EV plans Dominion Energy has is in the attached pdf.

They limit some to the particular chargers because they can remotely control them.

 

[Calvin H-C]

And if you added a battery-inverter system (don't even need any solar) your oven would run anytime you like, but be powered by the battery that charges over-night.

Very true.

Before the Ultra Low Overnight rate existed, I considered this idea. With the Time of Use plan, it would have saved us about $15 per month, so the payback time from the investment would be far too long.

However, with the greater spread between peak price and ultra low price, the additional mid price time, and the lower cost of equipment, the numbers work out significantly better, so I'm seriously looking into it again.

 

[NW Ontario Ford Lightning]

The low cost power is a nice bonus, but our motivation was reliability - living rural and running our business next door to our home made a battery-inverter system an easy decision.
After seeing how well it supported the shop, we added in the whole house instead of just some critical circuits to the system, and changed the battery-inverters to be our primary power, utilty is secondary power source.
Now with the Lightning, we have another back up to the system - one that can drive to a DCFC and return to power the system if required.

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