San Francisco-headquartered Sunrun, the largest residential solar and battery storage installer in the US, has launched a home electric vehicle (EV) charger.
October 14 update:Enel X Way, the Enel Group’s global electric mobility business, has announced that it will be providing Sunrun’s new smart Level 2 home EV chargers.
The Enel X Way Level 2 EV charger uses off-peak and automated charging to help balance the grid.
The new co-branded home EV charger is available now in select California, New Jersey, and Vermont markets, and it will be rolled out across the US by the beginning of 2023. It will be sold as an optional add-on for bundling with Sunrun home solar-plus-battery systems.
Sunrun’s new home EV charger
Sunrun’s 40-amp Level 2 EV charger is compatible with all EV models. The charger also offers smart features that allow customers to configure charger settings and control charging.
Sunrun’s charger will be available next month in select California, New Jersey, and Vermont markets, and then it will be rolled out across the US by the end of the year as an optional add-on. Sunrun customers will be able to bundle it together with a rooftop solar plus battery storage system.
Home charging an EV can increase a home’s electricity usage by 50% or more per year, depending on how much driving and home charging the EV owner does. With 80% of EV charging done at home, and utility prices rising across the US, homeowners who buy into rooftop solar will be able to charge their EVs with solar power while also reaping the benefits of cheaper, more predictable energy rates.
Mary Powell, chief executive officer of Sunrun, said:
There is a strong correlation between EV ownership and solar adoption. People want to charge their vehicles with a clean, reliable energy source that’s cheaper than what they’re used to paying. As we work with customers to understand their energy needs, our new EV charger, coupled with our ability to potentially upsize home solar systems to meet those needs, position us nicely to help them future-proof their homes and provide peace of mind.
First, I am currently working with Sunrun to install rooftop solar and battery storage. I am not getting any discounts or deals. This EV charger announcement is so new that our rep didn’t even know about it when he came to see us last week.
You may be thinking, what’s the big deal about the launch of another Level 2 home charger? Well, it’s because it bundles solar and storage and EV charging together, making it much easier for people to electrify their homes. Sunrun isn’t the only company to do this, but it’s big, and it’s got Ford at its shoulder. Combine that with today’s announcement that Ford is reopening orders for its Lightning F-150 on Thursday, and that creates convenience. And we all know how much we Americans like convenience. Plus, Sunrun will presumably install the EV charger for you, so you don’t have to pay an electrician separately to hook it up to both your electrical panel and your Wi-Fi.
Personally, I find it interesting that Sunrun is choosing to roll out this charger in Vermont first, since those of us who are Green Mountain Power customers here in Vermont qualify for a free home Level 2 EV charger. So while I applaud Sunrun for this rollout and will be asking my Sunrun rep about the possibility, I’ll go with the cheapest and smoothest option, and installation costs will also factor in.
Photo: Sunrun
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Leading electric vehicle analyst, author, and industry thought leaders Loren McDonald and Bill Ferro stop by Quick Charge to discuss EV Adoption’s acquisition by Paren, the “crisis” of EV charging reliability, and the real state of the EV market.
Depending on who you listen, EVs are either driving brands to record growth and are about cross that critical 10% of the overall market nationwide, or the future is bleak, the market is down, and EVs just aren’t selling. What’s really going on? Loren and Bill (probably) have some answers.
Today’s episode is sponsored by BLUETTI, a leading provider of portable power stations, solar generators, and energy storage systems. For a limited time, save up to 52% during BLUETTI’s exclusive Black Friday sale, now through November 28, and be sure to use promo code BLUETTI5OFF for 5% off all power stations site wide. Click here to learn more.
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Chevy EV owners in Texas who have Reliant as their electric utility can now charge for free at night with renewable energy.
Over 150 Chevrolet dealerships across Texas are now offering the Reliant Free Charge Nights plan to new EV buyers. With Free Charge Nights, customers can offset their charging costs by receiving credits for electricity used between 11 pm and 6 am. The plan is powered entirely by renewable energy, thanks to the purchase of renewable energy certificates (RECs).
Rasesh Patel, president of NRG Consumer, says the plan is about making power personal: “We’re excited to help Chevrolet EV drivers offset the cost of charging their vehicle all while having access to a renewable electricity plan.”
This collaboration aims to make EV adoption more appealing by making charging cheaper and greener. GM Energy’s chief revenue officer, Aseem Kapur, emphasized that partnerships like this help build the ecosystem needed to support an all-electric future: “The Reliant Free Charge Nights plan is a great example of how an automaker and an energy company can work together to make EV adoption an easy decision.”
Existing Reliant customers can also sign up for the Free Charge Nights plan. To get started, Chevrolet EV owners need to designate their vehicle on the GM Energy Smart Charging Portal before enrolling in the plan.
Reliant Energy, a subsidiary of NRG Energy, serves over 1.5 million customers in Texas, making it one of the largest electricity providers in the state.
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Texas is about to get a major power boost – a new AI-powered virtual power plant (VPP) delivering capacity equivalent to 200,000 homes during peak demand.
NRG Energy is teaming up with Renew Home to bring nearly 1 gigawatt (GW) of capacity to the Texas grid by 2035, aiming to make it more resilient while helping residents save on energy costs.
The new VPP will rely on hundreds of thousands of smart thermostats and other connected home devices, making use of AI technology provided by Google Cloud. These devices, like Vivint and Nest smart thermostats, will be offered to eligible customers at no cost. By automating HVAC adjustments, they help shift energy use to when electricity is cheaper, cleaner, and less strained.
NRG and Renew Home have big plans for the VPP. Starting in spring 2025, the companies plan to roll out the program across Texas, installing these smart thermostats in homes served by NRG’s retail electricity providers. Eventually, they plan to add home battery storage and EVs to expand the power plant’s capabilities.
Texas has faced record-breaking energy demands, with peak usage hitting 85 GW in 2023. As the state’s population grows and extreme weather becomes more frequent, VPPs like this one could play a key role in stabilizing the grid. VPPs aggregate a lot of small-scale energy resources, from smart thermostats to home batteries, and use them to help balance supply and demand during times of high stress on the grid.
This nearly 1 GW VPP will be one of the largest of its kind in Texas. NRG’s president of consumer operations, Rasesh Patel, calls it a “pivotal step” for improving customer experience while making Texas’ energy infrastructure more sustainable and resilient.
In addition to Renew Home, NRG is working with Google Cloud to maximize the power plant’s effectiveness. Google Cloud’s AI and analytics tools will help predict weather conditions, forecast renewable generation, and optimize energy usage, all of which will help make energy management smoother for both customers and the grid.
Ben Brown, CEO of Renew Home, said:
NRG’s commitment to creating a more resilient and sustainable energy future while also making electricity bills more affordable makes them an ideal partner for co-developing this unique VPP program.
This initiative raises the bar for future-proofing our electricity infrastructure and delivering cost savings to customers.
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