California’s growing fleet of electric vehicles presents an opportunity—and a challenge. Without smart coordination, thousands of cars plugging in during peak evening hours could strain the grid and drive up electricity costs for everyone. ChargeWise, a managed charging program from ev.energy, tackles this head-on by automatically shifting EV charging to the cheapest, cleanest hours of the day. Backed by the California Energy Commission (CEC) and local energy providers, the program uses dynamic price signals to schedule charging without requiring any changes to a driver’s electric rate or routine.
Phase 1 of ChargeWise proved the concept works at scale. Working with community choice aggregators MCE and Silicon Valley Clean Energy, the program moved up to 98% of charging load off-peak, saved participants $10 to $20 per month on average, and enrolled more than 1,000 customers in its first month—over half of whom live in disadvantaged communities. Now, with a $22 million budget from the CEC and partners, Phase 2 aims to expand to 79,000 California EV drivers by 2028, with equity and affordability at its core.
What Is ChargeWise?
ChargeWise is a free managed charging service delivered through ev.energy’s Eve platform. Once a driver enrolls, the app connects to their vehicle or home charger—no new hardware required—and uses day-ahead CAISO market signals to plan each day’s charging schedule. The result: the car charges during periods of low grid demand, typically midday when California’s solar output peaks, without any input from the driver.
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Unlike dynamic whole-home rates that can be complex and difficult for households to navigate, ChargeWise creates an EV-specific submetering add-on. This means participants keep their existing electricity rate while still benefiting from real-time price signals. The program simply automates the optimal charging window, making savings effortless for the customer.
What Stands Out
Automatic Savings Without Rate Changes
Most demand-response programs require customers to switch to a time-of-use or dynamic rate, which can be confusing and penalize households that cannot shift their overall energy use. ChargeWise sidesteps this by scheduling only the EV load. Phase 1 data showed that pairing managed charging with standard time-of-use rates achieved 90% off-peak charging, while the dynamic pricing tiers built into ChargeWise pushed that figure to 98%. Participants saved $10 to $20 per month simply by letting the Eve platform do the work.
Broad Compatibility
The Eve platform connects to roughly 95% of US EV-owning households through vehicle or charger integrations. This means drivers do not need to buy a specific brand of car or home charger to participate. The universal approach lowers barriers to entry and makes the program accessible to a wide range of households, including those in disadvantaged communities who may not have access to premium hardware.
Equity-Focused Design
Phase 2 explicitly requires that at least 50% of enrolled drivers reside in disadvantaged communities and that at least 50% participate through the dynamic pricing signal. The grant structure offsets user acquisition and onboarding costs for utilities and community choice aggregators, enabling them to focus outreach on underserved areas. This commitment to equity ensures that the benefits of managed charging—lower electricity bills and reduced emissions—reach those who need them most.
Who It’s For
ChargeWise is built for California EV drivers who want to save money on charging without effort or complexity. It is especially well-suited for households served by community choice aggregators such as MCE, Silicon Valley Clean Energy, and Clean Power Alliance, as these are the first partners rolling out the program. Drivers in disadvantaged communities are a priority, and the program’s low-touch enrollment and lack of hardware requirements make it an inclusive option.
Utility and CCA program managers will also find value in ChargeWise as a turnkey solution for managing growing EV loads. The CEC match funding covers 50% of acquisition, incentive, and onboarding costs, reducing the financial risk for energy providers while delivering measurable grid benefits.
What Makes It Worth Considering
ChargeWise is not just about individual savings—it is designed to benefit all California ratepayers. By shifting EV charging to midday, the program absorbs surplus solar generation that would otherwise be curtailed, reducing wholesale procurement costs for energy providers. This puts downward pressure on electricity rates for everyone, not just EV drivers. The program’s Phase 1 results are backed by a 2026 AESP Energy Award for Innovations in Technology, underscoring its real-world effectiveness.
Looking ahead, a portion of Phase 2 funding is dedicated to vehicle-to-everything (V2X) charging development, which could allow EVs to send power back to the grid during peak events. This future-proofing, combined with the program’s growing partner network (including investor-owned utilities and major driver associations), makes ChargeWise a compelling long-term investment for both drivers and energy providers.
Verdict
ChargeWise delivers on its promise of effortless, money-saving EV charging while advancing California’s grid reliability and equity goals. With proven results, wide compatibility, and a strong expansion plan, it stands out as a smart choice for any EV driver in the state.
Frequently asked questions
It is a managed EV charging program from ev.energy that automatically schedules charging for the cheapest hours using daily market price signals.
EV drivers in California where the program is available. Registration is currently open for interest.
No. The ev.energy app works with most EV makes and home charger brands, so no specific hardware purchase is needed.
No. ChargeWise works with your existing rate. It uses dynamic pricing signals to schedule charging without billing changes.
Phase 1 participants saved $10 to $20 per month on average, with up to $40 in some cases, compared to time-of-use rates alone.
Yes, there is no cost to join. The program is funded by the California Energy Commission and partners.
Visit the ChargeWise website at california.ev.energy/chargewise to register your interest. You will be notified when it opens in your area.
