With the new tariff system for electricity coming into effect on October 1, 2024, electric car owners will face new challenges when charging their vehicles. Dynamic network charge prices, depending on the time of day and network load, will require more accurate planning and adjustment of charging, which is not always easy. Are electric car drivers facing higher costs or will they be able to take advantage of new savings opportunities?
A new network fee system based on 15-minute intervals, the introduction of two seasonal periods and five time blocks, is designed with the aim of optimizing the distribution power system. High tariffs will apply during peak network load times (mainly in winter), and lower tariffs in periods of lower consumption (mainly in summer).
The owners electric cars will have to monitor the charging time of their vehicles more closely, as the price of the network fee will vary greatly depending on the time of day and the season. For example, charging a car during the morning and evening rush hours, when electricity consumption is highest, will be much more expensive than charging at night or early in the morning. Drivers will therefore have to pay more attention to the choice of charging time if they want to reduce costs.
Limitations in setting the charging speed for both cars and charging stations
One of the key challenges for electric car drivers is the fact that most vehicles and charging stations do not have the ability to precisely set the charging speed, or dynamically for a multitude of different terms. So that when electricity is cheap, a pole with a higher power, and when electricity is more expensive, with a lower one. Also, most electric cars charge with power 11 kW to 22 KW, which means that they quickly exceed the agreed billing power, especially in times of high network load. However, they do not have the option of accurately managing energy consumption and, for example, limiting consumption from the network to only 2 kW/h. Or exact charging according to a schedule with a precisely determined consumption power.
Although some more advanced charging stations allow adjustment of the charging speed, most of these settings are not dynamic enough to fully adapt to the requirements of the new tariff system. This means that many drivers will find it difficult to precisely regulate the charging power of their cars in order to avoid exceeding the agreed power or higher tariff blocks. This will be made possible by a new generation of charging stations that will be connected to the Internet and smart solutions. This is also why it can happen that the cost of using an electric car will jump sharply for certain users. No more, it will not be necessary to just connect the car to charging. However, you will have to be careful when and how you do it.
Agreed power and excess power
The new tariff system introduces the concept of agreed power, which means that users will have to determine in advance what their maximum power consumption will be in a certain period. If the driver exceeds this agreed power, the excess power will be charged additionally for each excess, which will make the monthly bill even more expensive.
The billing power for households is divided into several classes according to the connection power:
- up to 4.6 kW: This is the basic class that covers smaller clients, e.g. apartments and small households.
- above 4.6 kW to 11 kW: Most average households that use several electrical appliances fall into this class.
- above 11 kW to 22 kW: This class covers larger households or apartments with higher consumption, for example those with electric heating, heat pumps, charging stations for electric vehicles, etc.
- above 22 kW: This class is typical for very large customers or multi-dwelling units that have higher power requirements.
For electric car owners, this means that they will have to estimate exactly when and with what power they will charge their vehicle. If they charge during peak grid load times, when tariffs are highest, or if they repeatedly exceed the agreed capacity, costs will quickly rise. On the other hand, they will be able to save if they charge in time blocks with lower tariffs and during periods of less load on the network.
What are the solutions for electric car drivers?
To take advantage of the new system effectively, electric car drivers will need to become more active and strategic in managing their charging. Here are some possible solutions:
- Charging at night or during times of lower load: Drivers will have to take advantage of the time blocks with the lowest tariffs, which will generally be night or early morning. This means that it will be necessary to adjust the charging schedule, which is not always practical for all users.
- Investment in smart charging stations: Although most of the current chargers do not have advanced options for adjusting the charging speed, new solutions are likely to appear on the market that allow dynamic adjustment of the charging power according to the current network loads and tariffs.
- Optimization of agreed power: Owners of electric cars will have to closely monitor their needs and adjust the agreed power so that they do not pay for unnecessary excesses. This will require a certain amount of planning, and above all, the adjustment of the regime of use of vehicles and other electrical devices in the household.
Will the new system discourage buyers of electric cars?
Although the new tariff system presents certain challenges, it is unlikely that this change will have a significant impact on electric car sales. Electric vehicles they still offer a range of benefits, from lower maintenance costs to purchase subsidies and of course contributing to a more sustainable future. However, the complexity of the new tariff system is likely to deter many people from purchasing an electric car.
However, the new grid charge costs will certainly affect the total cost of ownership of an electric vehicle, possibly deterring those opting for an electric car mainly due to the expected lower energy costs. The key will be for users to adapt to the new conditions and take advantage of opportunities to optimize charging.
Conclusion: Opportunities and challenges of the new tariff system
The new electricity bill will bring additional complexity for electric car owners, as they will have to better plan and optimize charging. While those who know how to take advantage of lower tariffs and manage their consumption wisely will even be able to save, users who do not adapt will likely feel the cost.
In the future, we can expect more developments in the field of smart charging stations and energy management systems that will enable more dynamic adjustment of consumption. Although the transition to the new system will be challenging for some drivers, the long-term trend is clear: electric vehicles will continue to gain popularity, and it will be crucial that the infrastructure and technology systems evolve in line with the new energy requirements.
