- November 9, 2025
- 6:23 pm
Dealership savings — EV charging caps + lot-lighting policy
by Charles (Chuck) Tralka
Energy Strategy Consultant
Summary
Use your box as a battery. Pre-cool before peak, then glide through the on-peak window while staying within safe temperature bands.
Safety first (non-negotiables)
- Confirm product temperature requirements, humidity limits, and QA constraints.
- Define min/max room/coil setpoints and max float period.
- Document with operations; log temps during trials.
Operational steps
- Map your tariff window (e.g., on-peak 4–9 pm weekdays).
- Set pre-cool schedule 60 minutes before on-peak; lower setpoint 1–2°F; keep doors closed if possible.
- During peak, hold or allow a +1–2°F float within safe band.
- Stagger defrost cycles; avoid launches at start of peak; push heavier defrost to post-peak.
- Cap evaporator/condenser fan speeds during worst 60 minutes if variable, within airflow requirements.
- Schedule high-traffic tasks outside the on-peak window; use curtains/reminders.
- Monitor temps and compressor runtime; verify no excursions.
Quick example
Baseline 36°F; on-peak 4–9 pm. Pre-cool 3–4 pm to 34.5–35°F. Peak float up to 36.5–37°F within band. Savings show as reduced kWh in 4–9 pm and lower peak kW.
10-minute checklist
- On-peak window confirmed
- Safe temperature band documented
- Pre-cool schedule set (−1–2°F, 30–90 min before)
- On-peak float rule (+0–2°F) set
- Defrost cycles staggered; not in first 30 min of peak
- VFD caps applied during worst 60 min (if available)
- Door/traffic plan set for peak
- Temp and runtime logging enabled