Man Shows How To Properly Charge Tesla At Home. Then He Shares How You Can Save Money On Your Electric Bill
"Your Tesla will automatically start charging with your wall connector during the off-peak hours."
A Tesla devotee says you’re charging your EV wrong if you aren’t utilizing off-peak energy times. TikTok user Frunk to Trunk (@frunktotrunk) regularly posts content sharing his unabashed love for the electric car manufacturer. In a recent video, he highlights how a common feature in many EVs, Teslas included, can allow folks to schedule charges at cheaper energy intervals.
The Right Way To Charge A Tesla
Frunk to Trunk begins his clip with a recording of his two Tesla vehicles parked in his garage. He says, “So here’s how to charge a Tesla and some tips to save money. So right now you can see my Tesla wall connector is currently charging,” he says, zooming in on the white Level 2 Charging unit. A glowing green light is visible on the device, indicating that the vehicle is indeed receiving juice. Following this, he shows off the length of his EV’s home charger cable.
“This stretches over a two car garage, which is great if you park next to a spouse. You have two cars, obviously, and of course two Teslas,” he says. “But how much does it actually cost? Well, check it out.”
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He then pans the camera to his garage’s window to reveal it’s dark outside. “Right now it’s nighttime, and that’s what you want to do. Most electricity companies have what’s called off-peak hours, and your Tesla can automatically schedule charging so you don’t have to remember to plug in before bed. You can plug in whenever you want, and your Tesla will automatically start charging with your wall connector during the off-peak hours.”
He goes on to detail just how much he’s saving with his home power provider for electing to plug in at night. “Overnight hours, they’re less expensive, so my utility company literally charges me half as much on my utility rate for electricity if I elect to charge on those off-peak hours. It’s an incentive to charge your electric vehicle at those less-popular peak times of day.”
“So look up your off-peak hours in your area that you’re in, plug in your Tesla, and you’re gonna start to save hundreds of dollars.” he says. “I save, between the two vehicles, $200 to $250 every single month. My Tesla app tracks everything. It even tracks gas prices. So you’ll know exactly how much you’re paying, exactly how much you are saving, each and every month. Couldn’t be easier.”
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Time Of Use Energy Plans
In order to capitalize on the savings Frunk to Trunk mentions, one has to be on a Time of Use (TOU) power plan. Solar provider Energy Sage writes that these pay structures differentiate from standard electricity plans. In many instances, customers will have to elect to sign up for a TOU service agreement. “If you have the option of signing up for a TOU plan, you'll pay less for electricity at certain times (usually at night)––but you'll also pay more when electricity's in high demand.”
Another home power provider, FranklinWH, writes that energy consumption and pricing plans vary. These can range from different areas in the country along with any seasonal changes as well. Using New Jersey as an example, FranklinWH mentions that inclement weather can affect energy usage per kWh charge. For instance, extreme heat in the summer or cold in the winter can culminate in higher cooling/heating usage. These are considered peak seasonal usage times, which will often lead to “potential increases in rates during these periods.”
Free Charging During Off-Peak Hours?
Reddit users in r/evcharging echo Energy Sage’s remarks about standard versus TOU charging. One commenter provided some insight on TOU expenditures and highlighted how folks can even get separate meters installed to track their EV charging, meaning the power usage dedicated to their EV is monitored separately from their home power needs. “For most people, it's the same meter and same electricity costs. The power company has no idea what used that power, just that it was used. For some people, it's a second meter, but this can be a lot of expense to install,” they wrote.
They also highlighted how in some areas, Tesla customers can utilize the EV manufacturer as their energy provider, even charging their car for free during off-peak/nighttime hours. To see if you’re eligible for this perk, Tesla has more information here.
If you’re interested in following Frunk to Trunk’s EV charging advice, check to see if you’re on a TOU plan or if your energy provider makes this arrangement available to customers.
InsideEVs has reached out to Frunk to Trunk via TikTok comment for further information.
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