How to Use Smart Scheduling on an EV Charger

Smart scheduling is a feature available on most modern EV chargers that lets you control when charging happens, rather than starting immediately when you plug in.

Instead of charging as soon as the cable is connected, the charger waits until a set time or condition is met. This is commonly used to take advantage of night-rate electricity, when energy costs are lower.

Scheduling is usually set through the charger’s mobile app. You select the times you want charging to take place, such as overnight hours, and the charger follows this schedule automatically. Once set, there is nothing you need to do day to day other than plug in.

Some chargers also allow more advanced scheduling. This can include charging only when electricity is cheapest, limiting charging to certain days, or coordinating with other household electricity use to avoid high demand.

It is important to check whether scheduling is controlled by the charger, the car, or both. If both have schedules set, they can conflict and prevent charging from starting. In most cases, it is best to use one system consistently rather than mixing both.

If your car does not charge immediately after plugging in, this is often because smart scheduling is active. This is normal behaviour and means the charger is waiting for the scheduled time.

Smart scheduling helps reduce running costs, avoids unnecessary peak-time charging, and makes EV charging largely automatic once configured correctly.