Ladda & styra · KUNSKAPSGUIDE
Smart charge the electric car at home - price, power and departure time together
Cheap charging is about more than the cheapest quarter. Start from when the car must be ready and how the charging interacts with the house.
THE MOST IMPORTANT THING IN ONE MINUTE
- First calculate energy needs and available time.
- Price control and load balancing solve different tasks.
- A possible power charge and the home's other loads need to be included in the planning.
Start with the journey you actually need to make
Write when the car is connected, when you are going to go and how much energy needs to be added. With a clear end time, a charging plan can compare several available ranges instead of just choosing full power directly.
As an own exercise: if 12 kWh are to be supplied at a steady output of 3 kW, theoretically four hours are required. Charging losses and the car's limitations are added. With shorter available time, both goals and possible effect need to match.
Source material: Ei: control the charging of your electric car ↗
Price control moves - load balancing limits
Price control selects suitable times based on price and target. Load balancing adapts the charging according to what the rest of the home uses and what the system can handle. The two functions complement each other.
Therefore, the fact that a scheme chooses a cheap quarter does not show that the capacity of the house is sufficient. Ask which measurement values the control uses, which limits apply and how the load is adapted when other large loads start.
Source material: Ei: control the charging of your electric car ↗
Lowest spot price is not the full cost
With quarter-hour pricing, the timing of charging can affect your electricity supply cost. If your network tariff includes a demand charge, you also need to consider how charging contributes to your billed demand.
Suppose in your own thought example that a cheap period coincides with a high load in the house. Lower charging power for a longer period of time may then be worth comparing with a short, high peak. The conclusion in kroner requires your tariff and your usage.
Source material: Ei: electricity contracts with quarter-hour pricing ↗ · Ei: questions and answers about power charges ↗
Load with correct installation
The Swedish Electrical Safety Authority recommends a charging box for regular charging and advises against using a regular wall socket for long-term high loads. Let a registered electrical installation company assess the installation and the need for, for example, load balancing.
Talk about how the car is used, how far it is to the parking lot and if more cars can be added. Follow the equipment instructions. A price setting in an app does not replace a properly installed and dimensioned charging point.
Source material: Electric Safety Agency: installation of electric car chargers ↗
Follow up the charge without guessing
Check that the car reaches its destination before departure and that you can see the actual energy. Compare the same needs when testing a new schedule. If the mileage has changed, the monthly costs cannot be directly compared.
Also check what happens when connection is lost and how to request charging directly when needed. A useful solution should make everyday life comprehensible even when a plan has to be changed.
- When will the car be ready?
- What part of the charge can actually be moved?
- How is collision with the home's other large loads avoided?
Source material: Ei: control the charging of your electric car ↗
What does the price difference mean for a charge?
Try the amount of electricity purchased and two example prices.
Immerse Yourself
FAQ.
Does the car always have to charge at full power?
Nope. Need, available time and the limits of the installation determine. A lower power may be sufficient when the car is connected for a long time.
Is load balancing the same as cheapest charging?
Nope. Load balancing manages the capacity in the facility. A price plan chooses times. To assess the total cost, you also need the agreement and the network tariff.
FROM KNOWLEDGE TO EVERYDAY
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Sources and further reading.
The material was checked on 26 October 2026. Follow the links for current terms and conditions.