As electric vehicles become mainstream, a critical question emerges: How do we charge millions of EVs without overwhelming our electrical grid? The answer lies in intelligent charging systems that benefit both homeowners and utilities simultaneously.

Through Grid Catalyst’s Demonstration Cohort program, California-based energy startup NeoCharge partnered with the University of St. Thomas’ Center for Microgrid Research (CMR) to rigorously test their smart EV charging software using CMR’s Typhoon Real-Time Simulation testbed, one of the largest in the world.

The results demonstrate that optimized EV charging could be one of the most cost-effective ways to future proof the grid, reducing peak energy demand by up to 45% while lowering home energy bills up to 17% for homes without solar and up to 26% for homes with solar under time-of-use pricing.

Smart Charging That Automatically Shifts Electric Loads

Without smart charging, EVs are typically charged when owners arrive home, exactly when household demand peaks and electricity rates are highest. In the absence of a load-shifting solution, the timing of this charging can increase EV owners’ energy bills and put pressure on utilities to build out more infrastructure than would be needed if charging were avoided in peak conditions.

Meanwhile, homeowners with solar panels in areas with net metering face a solar-consumption mismatch: They generate more solar than they use during midday, selling excess electricity to the grid at low rates and purchasing it back at higher retail rates during peak evening hours.

NeoCharge’s app addresses both challenges through smart optimization that considers household energy consumption patterns, time-of-use electricity rates, and solar generation profiles.

The Pilot Methodology

The CMR team integrated NeoCharge’s software with their Typhoon Real-Time Simulation (CHIL) testbed, the largest testbed of its kind among Typhoon’s 600+ global university and utility customers. This advanced system models actual residential systems in real-time – complete with rooftop solar, Level 2 EV chargers, and typical household appliances. Using real load data from Pecan Street’s residential database across California, Texas, and New York, the Center’s team simulated diverse scenarios from small to large homes with multiple EVs.

The Impact: Up to 45% Peak Reduction and 26% Household Cost Savings

For homes without solar, NeoCharge’s algorithm delivered impressive results:

• Up to 45% reduction in household peak demand through intelligent load shifting
• Load factor improvements of 20-25%, indicating more even and efficient use of electrical infrastructure throughout the day
• Cost savings up to 17% under time-of-use rates for on-peak charging scenarios

These benefits scaled with overall household electricity demand: the higher a home’s baseload, the greater the reduction in peak demand and the more cost savings delivered under time-of-use rates.

For solar-equipped homes, the solar-aware algorithm within the software platform transformed daytime charging economics:

• Up to 98% solar self-consumption (when daytime charging)
• Over 50% of EV energy is served directly by rooftop solar when vehicles are charged during daylight hours
• Up to 26% reduction in total energy costs, simulated under California’s Net Metering 3.0 policy

The algorithm dynamically schedules charging to coincide with solar production peaks, turning what would be low-value exported solar electricity into high-value transportation fuel consumed on-site. However, for maximum benefit, EVs need to be available to charge during the day when solar production is at its peak.

The study revealed similar benefits for solar-equipped homes with more than one EV. CMR evaluated a household charging three different EVs simultaneously: a Tesla Model 3, Rivian R1T, and Nissan Leaf. The NeoCharge app coordinated all three vehicles based on priority settings, available solar output, and panel capacity constraints.

The multiple-EV scenario demonstrated a 93.6% reduction in solar exports to the grid, with 17% of the total EV load served by on-site solar – all while preventing demand spikes that would stress the home’s electrical panel and local grid infrastructure.

The Grid-Scale Implications

While these results focus on individual homes, the implications at scale are profound. If deployed across thousands of homes, NeoCharge’s technology could:

• Improve grid stability and defer expensive upgrades by significantly reducing peak demand
• Support renewable integration by providing load flexibility to use midday solar more efficiently
• Enable and incentivize higher EV adoption rates by shifting charging to off-peak hours, saving homeowners on their electricity bills every month

The NeoCharge’s app drives these benefits without requiring homeowners to sacrifice convenience. Users simply set their departure time and desired charge level, and the software handles the rest.

What’s Next

The rigorous CMR study provides NeoCharge with independently verified, real-world proof points as they scale their technology.

For utilities, the results suggest that incentivizing smart charging algorithms could be one of the most cost-effective grid investments – far cheaper than building new substations or peaking plants.

For policymakers, this research underscores the importance of rate structures that reward load flexibility. Time-of-use rates create the economic conditions where smart charging algorithms deliver maximum value.

Most importantly, for EV owners, this NeoCharge’s smart charging technology represents a clear win-win: lower electricity bills while supporting grid reliability for their entire community.

Spencer Harrison, CEO and co-founder of NeoCharge, summed up the importance of pilot partnerships like this for bringing high-potential energy innovation to the market:

“Having our technology rigorously tested in CMR’s world-class facilities gave us the independent validation we need as we scale. The results exceeded our expectations: homeowners save money, utilities avoid expensive infrastructure upgrades, and the grid becomes more resilient. Partnerships like this are invaluable to deploy emerging technology as a startup.”

Read the full CMR study →

About Grid Catalyst’s Demonstration Cohort:

Grid Catalyst’s Demonstration Cohort program connects innovative energy startups with strategic pilot partnerships in Minnesota. These pilots provide the critical, real-world evidence startups need to attract new customers and investors and scale their technologies.

The program is made possible through the support and partnership of the Minnesota Energy Alley initiative, funded by the Minnesota Department of Commerce and led by Clean Energy Economy Minnesota.

Pilot projects partners are essential to this work, and we are grateful for the University of St. Thomas’ Center for Microgrid Research for their partnership. We are proud to be working together to drive innovation and secure the state’s energy and economic development future.

About the Pilot Partners:

The University of St. Thomas’ Center for Microgrid Research is dedicated to improving the reliability and resiliency of our electric grid through cutting-edge research, educational programs, and strategic partnerships. As one of the premier applied engineering research centers in distributed energy resources and microgrids, they are building the human and operational capacity needed for a secure, resilient, and cost-effective electric grid in the 21st century.

NeoCharge is a cleantech company leading the way in home electrification and electric vehicle (EV) charging. Their software platform is designed to optimize home energy usage, cut carbon emissions, and enable utility bill savings through seamless integrations with utilities, EVs, and home energy devices. NeoCharge was one of six startups in our 2024 Demonstration Cohort.