Scheduled Charging
Scheduled charging starts, stops, or permits EV charging according to predetermined times or recurring time windows.
What it does
A schedule can delay charging until an off-peak tariff begins, keep charging outside a home's peak-demand period, or reserve charging hours for different fleet groups. The schedule may be stored in the vehicle, EVSE, mobile app, charging backend, or energy-management system.
A useful setup accounts for the required departure time and energy target. It should also provide a clear override for an unexpected trip and define what happens after a power, clock, internet, or communication failure.
Important boundary
Scheduled charging is one form of smart charging, but a fixed timetable does not react automatically to changing site load, electricity prices, solar output, or a live grid request. Those functions require additional measurements, data, or control logic.
A tariff schedule also needs maintenance. Daylight-saving changes, special tariff periods, and a user's departure changes can make a previously correct schedule unsuitable. Some vehicles and chargers offer overlapping timers, so their combined rules should be checked to avoid preventing charging altogether.
For responsive control, protocols, and grid integration, see Smart Charging and Grid Integration.