El Paso Electric Company (EPE) and ev.energy, the leading provider of managed electric vehicle (EV) charging solutions, today announced the launch of the EV Smart Rewards NM program, a pioneering initiative for EPE’s customers in New Mexico. This innovative program is designed to shift home EV charging to off-peak hours or low-carbon hours to optimize the use of existing grid infrastructure.

EV Smart Rewards NM targets the alignment of EV charging with off-peak, lowest cost hours, particularly avoiding the 3 PM to 7 PM peak window. Drivers simply connect their vehicle, set their preferred “Ready-By Time” and “Charge Limit”, and their charging will be optimized automatically through its advanced EV Flex platform. Participants can also receive notifications about Low Carbon Events and Demand Response events, where they can align their charging with low carbon generation or reduce charging during system peak of grid congestion hours.

The program offers substantial financial incentives: a $125 enrollment incentive, plus up to $5 per month for participating in Low Carbon Events and Demand Response events, and a $50 annual incentive for maintaining managed charging at 80% of the time. Incentives will be disbursed via PayPal or Venmo.

The EV Smart Rewards NM program aims to:

Balance Energy Demand and Supply: By shifting charging to off-peak hours, the program helps balance the electric grid and reduce strain during peak times, which may help reduce costs for all ratepayers.

Align with Renewable Energy and Low Carbon Hours: Charging sessions will also be scheduled during periods of high renewable or nuclear energy availability, contributing to a greener charging experience.

Innovation and Discovery: As EPE’s first managed EV charging initiative, the program serves as a testbed for innovative energy solutions and grid management strategies.

“The EV Smart Rewards NM program marks a significant milestone in our commitment to sustainability and innovation. This program not only supports our customers with cost-effective and environmentally friendly charging options but also helps us leverage existing grid resources more efficiently,” says Angie Rodriguez, Supervisor of Electrification of Transportation at EPE.

“We are proud to collaborate with El Paso Electric on this groundbreaking program. Our managed charging technology will empower EV owners in New Mexico to charge smarter, save money, and contribute to a cleaner grid,” stated Nick Woolley, CEO of ev.energy.