Austin Energy has expanded its Power Partner Electric Vehicle (PPEV) managed-charging program to encompass a number of things in an effort to improve grid resiliency and advance sustainability. General Motors has a range of electric vehicle models. Fostering more involvement from electric vehicle owners around the city, this growth marks a remarkable improvement to the program.
Cadillac’s Escalade, LYRIQ, OPTIQ, and VISTIQ; Chevrolet’s Equinox EV, Blazer EV, and GMC’s newly accepted GM vehicles, including the GMC Hummer EV, as well as Silverado EV, Sierra EV, and EV. This growth strengthens the existing inclusion of Tesla electric cars, especially Model 3, S, X, Y, and Cybertruck, and underlines Austin Energy’s efforts to diversify participation venues.
The Austin Energy’s Power Partner EV scheme lets members help to stabilize the grid by allowing for little remote changes to their Level 2 EV charging or appropriate automobiles during times of peak demand, usually from June through September. During these “Power Partner events,” charging may be lowered or briefly stopped to prevent depletion of battery levels, and consumers keep full control, with override possibilities always accessible.
Customers are encouraged, in addition to strengthening the local electricity network: new members get a $50 bill credit, and a yearly extra $25 credit is given for continued participation. Austin Energy’s Vice President for Customer Energy Solutions, Richard Genece, noted that including GM into the PPEV line-up is a major step toward highlighting the dual benefit of advancing clean energy goals while providing real financial rewards, a more flexible, sustainable electric grid
Other electric car owners can still participate, provided they make use of onboard telematics on Tesla and GM cars to smoothly connect with the Austin Energy’s Power Partner EV program. Brands like ChargePoint, EvoCharge, or Emporia offer compatible smart home chargers. Austin Energy says it wants to keep growing the program’s compatibility both in terms of smart charging infrastructure as well as additional EV makes.
