Honda recently introduced its new SmartChargeTM beta program, which allows electric vehicle (EV) customers to reduce the environmental impact of charging their car while earning monetary rewards.
Officials said Honda is the first automaker to introduce such a program and will begin targeting Honda Fit EV customers.
“Honda SmartChargeTM is uniquely able to shift electric vehicle charging in real-time without impacting the customer,” Steve Center, vice president of Connected and Environmental Business Development for American Honda Motor Co., Inc., said. “We believe the program will be a game changer with its ability to create new value for our customers, reduce demand on the grid during peak load times and help contribute to our company’s goal of reducing CO2 emissions.”
Honda SmartChargeTM computes the best time to charge a vehicle from the electric grid, taking into account the driver’s daily schedule, amount of renewable energy being generated, and the amount of CO2 emitted from power plants on the network. By recording the customer’s desired charging times, the system enables the vehicle to be fully charged when the customer needs it next without impacting their use of the vehicle.
With the Honda SmartChargeTM app, the automaker said Fit EV drivers can monitor their charging progress and access a scorecard feature tracking rewards earned, CO2 saved and other stats related to customers’ participation in the program.
After receiving utility approval from eMotorWerks and completing five charging sessions, the customer earns a monetary sign-up reward.