When you charge determines not only what you pay - but also how much CO2 your car emits. The difference can be significant.
What is the green energy mix?
The green energy mix indicates what percentage of the power on the Dutch electricity grid comes from renewable sources at any given moment: wind, solar and hydro. This percentage changes every quarter-hour.
We calculate the green mix based on production data from NED.nl (National Energy Dashboard), where output per energy source is available every 15 minutes. We calculate the share of green sources in total production and display an hourly average in the start and stop emails.
Why does the green mix vary by the hour?
The availability of green power depends on weather and time of day. During the day there is often a lot of solar energy available. At night, consumption is low and it is often windier, so the green mix tends to be higher. The biggest peaks in grid load occur in the early morning and early evening - when the green mix is at its lowest.
Smart charging: good for your wallet and the climate
By charging when the green mix is high, you significantly reduce the CO2 per kWh charged. During peak hours, the CO2 intensity of electricity can be two to three times higher than during off-peak hours.
When you plug in, you receive a start email with the current price and green mix, including a suggestion for the best charging time. The development towards fully automatic control is underway.