A new trend is emerging in the fast charging station for electric cars, where filling up your battery costs less when the weather is sunny. An expert in energy management has stated that smart charging is the future and that everyone, including small entrepreneurs, should participate. At Eric De Witte’s Powerland station in Deinze, a kilowatt cost only 64 cents in the morning, which is significantly cheaper than most fast charging stations along the motorway. However, the price dropped to 51 cents at exactly 10 am and remained low until 5 pm. De Witte has a variable energy contract for his station, where the price becomes cheaper with oversupply of energy from solar panels on sunny days or during weekends.
De Witte, who runs the pumping station, chooses to pass on the discount he receives to his customers rather than maximizing profits. He believes that this strategy will attract more customers and generate more turnover. There is also an educational component for customers to learn about how to optimize charging based on weather forecasts. Despite most customers still using diesel or petrol, De Witte aims to change their perception that fast charging is expensive and harmful to batteries by demonstrating that it can be affordable and sustainable with smart charging practices.
Helena Gerard from VITO/EnergyVille commended De Witte’s initiative stating that smart charging is the future of energy management and consumers need incentives to adopt it. She believes that discounts passed on to customers by stations such as De Witte’s will encourage people to adopt smart charging practices and help move towards a sustainable energy system. Small entrepreneurs joining this movement towards smart charging are beneficial as they can contribute towards reducing greenhouse gas emissions through their businesses.
Overall, De Witte’s innovative approach towards fast charging through smart pricing strategies sets an excellent example for other businesses looking to transition towards a sustainable energy system while generating revenue at the same time.
