Parks Associates: 72% of EV Owners Own Smart Home Technologies, Versus 44% of Non-EV Owners
A trend is developing as electric vehicle owners are more likely than non-EV owners to adopt smart home technologies, according to a recent study from Parks Associates that included 8,000 Internet households in the United States.
Its report, EV Charging at Home: User Demand and Preferences, considered consumers’ charging location and equipment preferences, charging behaviour and frequency, user experience, affordability, and future expansion considerations. It found high interest among EV owners to let smart devices and utilities both manage their home energy usage and coordinate charging with other appliances.
“Charging can be a point of stress for EV owners, but they demonstrate interest in broader tech solutions that can coordinate energy usage, save costs, and conserve resources,” said Daniel Holcomb, Senior Research Analyst at Parks Associates, in a statement.
He said most EV owners see the value in having EVs coordinating with other devices for charging, and 34% are willing to let utilities adjust EV charging times during peak energy demand. “EV owners are primed for the use of other smart home technologies that have similar capabilities, and many already own the devices to enable these scenarios.”
Based on the study, 72% of owners have at least one smart home device, compared to the 44% of non-EV owners. Companies, such as Schneider Electric, are moving forward with energy management systems that can coordinate EV charging and other home appliances. And based on Parks Associates partnerships, such as the one between Resideo and Ford, are driving the trend forward.
“The future of home energy will be characterized by coordinated and orchestrated systems that leverage demand response technologies, optimizing energy use and enhancing efficiency,” said Holcomb, adding that “EVs will have a big role in this future.”
