By EV Charge Cost Editorial Team. Published September 28, 2026, updated October 26, 2026.
"Smart" chargers connect to Wi-Fi or a phone app and add scheduling, energy tracking and sometimes load management or utility program features. Whether that is worth anything depends almost entirely on how your electricity is priced.
Where the savings come from
Charging cost is miles × kWh per mile × price. Scheduling does not change the miles or the kWh; it only changes the price, and only if your plan has cheaper hours. On a flat-rate plan every kWh costs the same at noon and at 3 a.m.
The table uses an illustrative off-peak discount, not any utility's actual tariff, applied to the U.S. average price (18.16¢/kWh, August 2026) for a 33.5 kWh/100 mi EV driven 13,500 miles a year.
| Off-peak discount | Off-peak price | Yearly cost | Yearly savings | Monthly savings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10% | 16.34¢ | $739.16 | $82.13 | $6.84 |
| 20% | 14.53¢ | $657.03 | $164.26 | $13.69 |
| 30% | 12.71¢ | $574.90 | $246.39 | $20.53 |
| 40% | 10.90¢ | $492.77 | $328.52 | $27.38 |
Savings scale with your price. Using the same illustrative 30% discount:
- Nevada (12.72¢/kWh average): about $172.58 a year
- Alabama (16.33¢/kWh average): about $221.56 a year
- Hawaii (47.18¢/kWh average): about $640.12 a year
Your real numbers depend on your utility's peak and off-peak prices and on how much of your other household use shifts too. See time-of-use rates and EV charging and the cheapest time to charge.
Two cautions before counting on these numbers. First, a time-of-use plan usually raises the price during peak hours, so cooking, laundry and air conditioning in the late afternoon can eat into the EV savings. Second, charging that spills past the end of the off-peak window is billed at the higher rate, which is why the window length matters (below).
Do you need a smart charger to schedule?
Often not. Many EVs can set a charging start time or a "finish by" time in the car's own menu or app, and that works with any charger, even a basic Level 1 cord. A smart charger adds value when:
- your car has no scheduling, or its scheduling is unreliable;
- you have two EVs and want one schedule for both;
- you want per-session energy records, for example to reimburse work charging or split costs;
- you want load management that turns charging down when the house is busy (see panel capacity);
- your utility offers a managed-charging program that works through the charger (availability varies).
Will the charge fit in the window?
A cheap window only helps if you can fill the battery inside it. Suppose, as an illustration, your off-peak period lasts 5 hours:
| Charger | Power | Miles in 5 h | Covers 37 mi/day? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Level 1 — 120 V, 12 A | 1.44 kW | 21 | No |
| Level 2 — 240 V, 16 A | 3.84 kW | 57 | Yes |
| Level 2 — 240 V, 32 A | 7.68 kW | 115 | Yes |
| Level 2 — 240 V, 40 A | 9.60 kW | 143 | Yes |
| Level 2 — 240 V, 48 A | 11.52 kW | 172 | Yes |
Level 1 struggles with short windows; a modest Level 2 circuit handles a typical day easily.
Features that sound useful but add little
- Remote start and stop duplicates what most car apps already do.
- Cost estimates in the app are only as good as the rate you type in; use the price on your own bill, as explained in how to find your electricity rate.
- Connectivity depends on Wi-Fi reaching the garage; a charger that loses its connection should still charge, but scheduling may fall back to the car.
Verdict
- Flat rate, car can schedule: a smart charger adds convenience and data, not savings.
- Time-of-use plan, car can schedule: use the car's scheduler; a smart charger is optional.
- Time-of-use plan, no car scheduling, or two EVs: a smart charger usually earns its keep.
- Solar at home: charging that follows solar output can help; see solar panels and EV charging.
- Tiered plan: timing does not matter, total use does; see tiered rates.
Any hardwired or 240 V charger should be installed by a licensed electrician under a local permit, following the manufacturer's instructions.