NeoCharge Smart Charging: How It Works

Last Updated: October 30, 2025

Overview

NeoCharge Smart Charging automatically optimizes when your EV charges based on your priorities—whether that's saving money, reducing emissions, or finding the right balance between both. Instead of setting manual start and stop times, you simply choose your charging goal and let NeoCharge handle the rest.

Smart Charging works with your utility rate plan and real-time grid data to ensure your vehicle is fully charged by your target time while maximizing savings or environmental impact.

Note: Smart Charging requires your EV to be connected to the NeoCharge app. If you're using a Smart Splitter without a connected vehicle, you can still use static scheduling for the secondary outlet, but Smart Charging optimization is not available.

In This Article

• How Smart Charging Works
• Understanding Charging Modes
• Setting Up Smart Charging
• Smart Charging vs. Static Schedules
• Frequently Asked Questions
• Troubleshooting Smart Charging

How Smart Charging Works

Smart Charging analyzes multiple factors to determine the optimal charging windows for your connected EV:

• Your utility rate structure (time-of-use rates, peak/off-peak pricing)
• Real-time grid emissions data (from WattTime)
• Your vehicle's current charge level
• Your target ready by time
• How much charge is needed

Based on your selected mode, NeoCharge automatically communicates with your vehicle to start and stop charging during the most advantageous times, ensuring it reaches your desired charge level by your deadline.

Key Terms

Understanding Charging Modes

Each schedule can have its own charging mode. You'll see the active mode displayed as a badge on each schedule card in the app.

Lowest Cost 💰

Badge displays: Lowest Cost

Only charges your EV during the lowest-cost periods according to your utility rate plan. If you're on a time-of-use (TOU) rate plan, this typically means charging late at night or during off-peak hours.

Example: If your utility charges $0.12/kWh from 12 AM–6 AM and $0.35/kWh during the day, Lowest Cost mode will schedule all charging between midnight and 6 AM.

Best for: Weekday schedules when maximum cost savings is the priority.

Lowest Emissions 🌱

Badge displays: Lowest Emissions

Only charges your EV when grid emissions are lowest, based on real-time data from WattTime. This means charging when more renewable energy (solar, wind) is available on the grid.

Example: In California, solar generation peaks in the afternoon, so Lowest Emissions mode might charge between 10 AM–3 PM when the grid is cleanest—even if rates are higher.

Note: Lowest Emissions mode requires WattTime integration and may result in higher electricity costs.

Best for: Weekend schedules or when environmental impact is the top priority.

Lowest Cost + Emissions ⚖️

Badge displays: Lowest Cost + Emissions

Finds optimal charging times that consider both your utility rates and grid emissions. This mode weighs both factors to minimize cost while still reducing your carbon footprint.

Example: Lowest Cost + Emissions mode might charge during late-night hours when rates are moderate and emissions are lower than peak times, avoiding both the most expensive and dirtiest periods.

Best for: General use when you care about both cost savings and environmental impact.

Setting Up Smart Charging

Prerequisites

• Your EV must be connected to the NeoCharge app
• Your utility rate plan must be configured in Settings

Creating a Smart Schedule

Step 1: Access Smart Charging

1. Open the NeoCharge app
2. Tap the Schedules tab at the bottom
3. Tap Create Schedule or edit an existing schedule

Step 2: Select Your Mode

1. Choose your preferred charging mode:
   • Lowest Cost – Only charge when utility rates are cheapest
   • Lowest Emissions – Only charge when grid emissions are lowest
   • Lowest Cost + Emissions – Optimize for both (select both checkboxes)
2. Tap Next

Step 3: Set Your Ready By Time

1. Select your target Ready By time (e.g., 7:00 AM on weekdays)
2. Choose which days this schedule applies to
3. NeoCharge will automatically calculate the optimal charging windows
4. Tap Save Schedule

Step 4: Review Your Schedules

Your schedules will appear on the main Schedules screen with their charging mode badge displayed on each card. You can edit or delete schedules at any time by tapping the schedule card.

Smart Charging vs. Static Schedules

Can I use both? No. You must choose either Smart Charging or Static Schedules for each schedule. However, you can have different schedules with different modes (e.g., weekdays use Lowest Cost, weekends use Lowest Emissions).

Note: If you have a Smart Splitter, you can use static scheduling to control when the secondary outlet is active, but Smart Charging optimization is only available for connected EVs.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can different schedules have different modes?
Yes! Each schedule can have its own charging mode. You might use Lowest Cost for weekdays and Lowest Emissions for weekends, for example.

What does the badge on my schedule mean?
The badge shows which charging mode is active for that schedule:

• Lowest Cost = Only charging during cheapest utility rates
• Lowest Emissions = Only charging during cleanest grid times
• Lowest Cost + Emissions = Optimizing for both cost and emissions

Does Smart Charging work with my Smart Splitter?
Smart Charging requires your EV to be connected to the NeoCharge app. The Smart Splitter itself supports static scheduling for the secondary outlet, but the intelligent optimization features (Lowest Cost, Lowest Emissions, Lowest Cost + Emissions modes) only work when you have a connected vehicle.

What if I have a Smart Splitter but no connected EV?
You can still use static scheduling to control when your Smart Splitter's secondary outlet is active. However, Smart Charging modes are not available without a connected vehicle.

What if my utility rate plan isn't in the app?
Go to Settings → Utility Rate Plan to manually enter your rate structure, or contact [email protected] for assistance syncing your plan.

Will my car always be charged by my ready by time?
Yes. NeoCharge ensures your vehicle reaches your target charge level by your ready by time. If more charging time is needed than optimal windows allow, the system will extend charging into less optimal periods to meet your deadline.

Can I create different schedules for different days?
Yes! You can set up unique Smart Charging schedules for each day of the week with different modes and ready by times (e.g., weekday vs. weekend schedules).

Does Lowest Emissions mode cost more money?
It can, depending on when the grid is cleanest in your region. In areas with daytime solar production, Lowest Emissions mode may charge during higher-rate periods. The app will show you the estimated impact before you save your schedule.

What happens if I plug in at different times?
Smart Charging adapts in real-time. If you plug in later than usual, NeoCharge recalculates the optimal windows to still meet your ready by time.

Do I need to turn off my car's built-in schedule?
Yes, this is critical. Make sure to disable any charging schedules in your vehicle's settings. Running both NeoCharge and your car's schedule simultaneously will cause conflicts.

How do I change the mode for an existing schedule?
Tap Edit on the schedule card, then change your mode selection. The badge will update to reflect your new selection after you save.

Troubleshooting Smart Charging

Still Have Questions?

Contact Us: [email protected]