Owners of electric vehicles are being sought to trial two types of smart home charger as the island works towards a carbon neutral future.
The 30 successful applicants to Jersey Electricity's scheme will be able to keep the charger for free after the trial and receive £500 cashback towards the costs of each installation, as a ‘thank you’ for participating.
The driving force behind the project, JE Energy Solutions Officer James Le Ruez, who is himself a long-time owner of an electric Nissan Leaf, explained: "The chargers we are trialling can help us better manage the network, as well as help those customers on dual-rate tariffs access cheaper electricity. One system we will trial uses an app that allows drivers to select the amount of charge they need and the time they need it by – for example, 90% charge by 07:00.
"In the background, we will set our preference for the charge time, say after midnight, when we have spare capacity on the network. The smart element of the charger will ensure customers get the charge they need, while also prioritising times when demand on the network is low. This maximises network efficiency and means customers can save money. A real win-win for all."
Pictured: The initiative aims to support the island as it works towards a sustainable transport future.
Participants must own a pure EV or a plug-in hybrid and must use the vehicle as their primary mode of transport. They must also intend to charge at home for the duration of the trial, which is expected to last up to 12 months.
They will also need agree for their consumption data to be recorded and used by Jersey Electricity and complete five short online surveys.
"It is essential to hear from our customers how this innovative new tech works for them," Mr Le Ruez said.
"This trial is another crucial step in helping Jersey to plan for a future which will increasingly use electric transport to tackle the climate emergency, supporting the island’s transition to net zero carbon by 2030."
Comments
Comments on this story express the views of the commentator only, not Bailiwick Publishing. We are unable to guarantee the accuracy of any of those comments.