Palo-Alto, California-based EV charging software provider ev.energy and internet of things (IoT) solutions provider Smartenit, based in Irvine, Calirfornia, today launched a smart, grid-optimized Level 1 mobile EV cable for drivers who don’t have access to home charging stations.
This level 1 mobile EV cable is smart
Most – but not all – EVs come with a mobile charging cord with a standard SAE J1772 charging connector, and it plugs into any 120v, three-pronged outlet. (Teslas no longer come equipped with mobile connectors, and the Kia EV6 doesn’t come with a mobile connector either.)
Older EV models are also more likely to lack embedded telematics connectivity that allow them to take advantage of utility programs that pay out bill credits, or other financial incentives for charging during grid-optimal times. The ev.energy-Smartenit mobile charging cable addresses these issues.
This Level 1 charging cable can be plugged into any 120v outlet. A Wi-FI-connected modem inside the device connects it to the ev.energy app that offers EV drivers automatic off-peak charging schedules to minimize charging costs. It also works with several US power utilities to offer EV drivers additional cash back for participating in smart-charging programs.
For example, this past summer, customers of the United Illuminating Company of Connecticut used ev.energy’s platform to earn $50 per month for charging at grid-optimal times, earning up to $200 cash back.
Electrek’s Take
The Level 1 version of this cable retails for $350. (There’s also a Level 2 version available for sale that costs $500.) There are plenty of Level 1 EV charging cables on the market that cost less, but this is smart, so it saves users money in the long run.
Tesla’s mobile connector currently costs $200, and you can use the Tesla app to set it to charge during off-peak times. I own Tesla’s mobile connector – I managed to score one before Tesla stopped including it with the car – and I use it at home daily to charge my Model 3. I’d be in big trouble without it. I used to use the Level 1 adapter outdoors when I lived in St. Petersburg, Florida. Now we use the Gen 2 NEMA 6-50 adapter in Vermont in our garage. The Tesla mobile smart connector gets the job done with both Level 1 and Level 2 adapters.
So I wouldn’t need this product as a Tesla driver, but it could prove valuable to someone who wanted to swap their older, Level 1 non-smart charging cable for a smart charger in order to save on their home electric bills.
If someone is charging their EV at their apartment building’s parking lot, I suppose it depends on whether or how they’re billed for using communal electrical outlets. I’d love to hear from apartment dwellers about this – is it free, or does it cost you in some way to use a communal outlet? Would this product be helpful to you?
Joseph Vellone, ev.energy’s head of North America, told Electrek by email what he felt the differentiator is for his company’s mobile EV charger. He replied:
It contains a Wi-Fi-connected modem that allows for at-home smart-charging via the ev.energy software platform. That means it will calculate an optimal schedule for the EV driver based on their desired charge level and departure time, while scheduling for the cheapest (off-peak) and lowest-carbon hours based on data ev.energy gets from the driver’s utility.
If the driver is a customer of a participating utility, they might also benefit from additional cash rebates on their EV charging via the ev.energy mobile app, which the driver uses alongside the charger. For example, EV drivers in Massachusetts benefit from $0.05/kWh off their off-peak charging via a program run by National Grid.
This [smart charging cable] ensures that all EV drivers – not just ones who drive top-end/newer models, or live in a detached family house with their own private EV charging station – can enjoy the benefits of greener, cheaper charging.
Do you think this smart mobile EV cable is good value? Would you purchase it, and why or why not? Let us know in the comments down below.
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The Mockingbird Solar Center, Ørsted’s largest solar project globally, is now online, next to protected prairie donated by the renewable energy giant.
This massive 468-megawatt (MW) solar farm is set to power 80,000 homes and businesses, providing a major boost to the Texas grid.
But the launch of Mockingbird Solar isn’t just about clean energy – it’s also about restoring precious ecosystems. Ørsted has donated 953 acres of the Smiley-Woodfin Native Prairie Grassland, which sits next to the solar center, to The Nature Conservancy. The donated land is now the Smiley Meadow Preserve, a protected area for tallgrass prairie that’s home to more than 400 species of grasses and wildflowers.
Tallgrass prairies are some of the rarest ecosystems in the US, with less than 1% of Texas’ original tallgrass prairies still in existence. Tallgrass prairie does a lot of heavy lifting for the environment, including storing carbon, preventing floods, and providing crucial habitats for pollinators.
“Native prairies are the rarest landscapes left in Texas – so much so that many people have never seen one,” said David Bezanson, land protection strategy program director for The Nature Conservancy in Texas. He added that preserving Smiley Meadow will not only conserve one of the best prairie remnants left but also help restore other prairie habitats and boost regional biodiversity.
The Mockingbird Solar Center, a half-billion-dollar project, is part of Ørsted’s $20 billion push to expand renewable energy production across the US. Beyond generating electricity, it will inject $75 million into local property taxes, benefiting schools and other public services. The project also created over 550 construction jobs and will continue to be supported by operations staff moving forward.
Ørsted worked with US companies, including First Solar, for solar panels and partnered with local businesses like Drake Construction and Pfifer Farms for construction materials. It also gave more than $50,000 to local volunteer fire departments in Roxton and Brookston.
With Mockingbird Solar now up and running, Ørsted has more than 6 gigawatts of onshore wind, solar, and battery storage projects either in operation or being built across the US.
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CNBC’s Jim Cramer on Friday said companies related to natural gas and oil will thrive under President-elect Donald Trump’s administration and a majority Republican Congress.
“We’re hearing about all sorts of Trump trades right now, and many of these things have made insane moves in less than three weeks, to the point where, actually, they’re feeling precarious to me,” he said. “If you want a sustainable Trump trade, I say bet on the natural gas ecosystem. This is an industry that already had a lot going for it, it just needed some cooperation from the federal government, which it is about to get.”
President Joe Biden’s administration is largely opposed to fossil fuels, Cramer said, and the federal government has worked to block pipelines and paused new liquified gas export authorizations. This dynamic, coupled with a weaker global economy, caused the sector to underperform for much of the year, he suggested. But Trump has shown more favor to the industry, and Cramer pointed out that he tapped prominent oil executive Chris Wright to lead the Department of Energy.
Cramer recommended several stocks in the sector, including energy producers EQT and Coterra. The former is focused on natural gas and recently acquired peer Equitrans, raising the combined company’s valuation to an estimated $35 billion, Cramer noted. He added that Coterra is a good long-term holding and called the company “one of the shrewdest operators in the industry.”
He highlighted pipeline companies, including Energy Transfer and Kinder Morgan, and said he was especially bullish on Enbridge. Enbridge says it transports about 20% of all natural gas consumed in the U.S., and Cramer claimed the Canadian outfit has “strategically located assets.”He also named Cheniere and Sempra, saying the former is the “best play” for liquified natural gas exports.
“Seasonally, this is a good time for the commodity,” he said, pointing out that natural gas itself has climbed since the election. “But I also think there’s some optimism about the future of the industry driving this move.”
Jeep’s first global luxury electric SUV will arrive at US dealerships any day. Despite its $72,000 price tag, lease prices for the 2024 Jeep Wagoneer S EV start at just $599 per month.
Jeep claims the Wagoneer S packs “exhilarating performance.” With 600 hp and 617 lb-ft of torque, the big-body SUV can sprint from 0 to 60 mph in just 3.4 seconds. Its 100 kWh battery pack also gives it a driving range of over 300 miles.
The electric SUV is unmistakably still a Jeep, but it did get several upgrades to distinguish it as an EV. The grille is now enclosed without the need to cool a massive engine, giving it a sporty, more modern look.
Jeep revamped its design with a new illuminated seven-slot grille with ambient cast lightning. It also fine-tuned its profile, adding flush door handles, a rear wing, and integrated fins for better airflow.
The first Jeep Wagoneer S Launch Edition models get exclusive dark accent design elements like 20″ Gloss Black Wheels.
Inside, the electric SUV is loaded with the latest tech and connectivity, including a best-in-class 45″ of usable screen space. The setup includes a 12.3″ center screen and an exclusive 10.25″ interactive front passenger screen.
Jeep already announced that the 2024 Wagoneer S EV will start at $71,995, but now the company has revealed lease prices for the first time.
According to Jeep, the 2024 Jeep Wagoneer S Launch Edition can be leased for $599 per month for 36 months (10,000 miles per year). The deal includes $4,999 due at signing and a $7,500 EV incentive. However, you may want to act fast, as Jeep’s offer is only good until December 2, 2024.
Jeep Wagoneer S vs Tesla Model Y
Starting Price
Range
Lease Price
Jeep Wagoneer S Launch Edition
$71,995
+300 miles
$599/mo
Tesla Model Y RWD
$44,990
320 miles
$299/mo
Tesla Model Y AWD
$47,990
308 miles
$399/mo
Tesla Model Y AWD Performance
$51,490
279 miles
$599/mo
In comparison, Tesla Model Y RWD lease prices start at $299 for 36 months with $2,999 down (10,000 miles). The Performance AWD model starts at $599 per month. In an end-of-year promo, Tesla also offers 3 months of free Supercharging and Full Self-Driving.
Ready to drive off in your new electric SUV? We can help you get started. You can use our links below to view offers on the Jeep Wagoneer S and Tesla Model Y at a dealer near you.
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