A new study from Sense and Singularity Energy demonstrates the potential for significant carbon reductions from electric vehicle (EV) charging using a combination of smart home automation and location, along with time-based carbon emissions data from the power grid. The study found that by automating charging to minimize carbon impact, carbon emissions from EV charging could be reduced 8 to 14 percent on average across the country.

The potential reductions in California are more dramatic, with a potential for 43 percent carbon savings. California’s grid relies on renewable energy for nearly half of its electricity, much of it from low-carbon sources such as solar and wind, which contribute to significant variations in carbon intensity (a measure of carbon emissions per unit of energy consumed).

Carbon reductions from automated EV charging could have a significant impact on reaching carbon emissions goals to slow climate change. While EV charging is the most obvious case, similar opportunities for savings apply to other large loads in the home such as running a dishwasher or washer during overnight hours. For these cases, automation can provide the right balance of meeting consumer needs and optimizing cost, carbon emissions and constraints of the grid.

The analysis showed that most regions can achieve significant carbon reductions by automating EV charging to take advantage of the cleanest energy sources. As more states and regions increase the share of energy produced by renewable sources, the carbon savings potential will increase across the country, says the study.