Using profiles and schedules to charge

With Enphase’s IQ EV Charger, you can control your EV charging experience—from how and when you charge your vehicle’s battery to the impact of each charging session.

Powered by intuitive, AI driven technology, IQ EV Charger includes app-controlled profiles and customizable schedules, allowing you to create a solution for your unique charging goals. In addition to enabling EV charging using low-cost clean energy, the IQ EV Charger can help you optimize your ongoing charging needs with a session-wise charging summary, remote start/stop capabilities, and more.

This article will outline how to use the Profiles and Schedules features within the Enphase app, including the value you can unlock by combining an IQ EV Charger with an Enphase energy system.

Introducing Profiles for EV charging

Profiles are applicable for EV charging when an IQ EV Charger integrates with an Enphase Energy System. Seamlessly unified with other Enphase Energy System components—like home solar, battery storage, and more—the IQ EV Charger can communicate intelligently with your entire home to optimize electricity usage.

To access Profiles, go to MENU>Settings>Profile, where you can select your system-level settings and customize EV charging as part of your Enphase Energy System.

For systems with solar, battery storage, and IQ EV Charger

When incorporating an IQ EV Charger with solar and battery storage, you can access customized settings in the Profile section, such as Self-Consumption, Savings (or AI Optimization), and Full-Backup.

Self-Consumption

The Self-Consumption profile helps you reduce your environmental impact by prioritizing the use of your own solar power for running home appliances and charging electric vehicles.

All home appliances are first powered by solar and battery. Any excess solar after powering home loads is diverted toward EV charging in increments of 25% of the charger’s capacity. The IQ EV Charger will initiate charging only when excess solar is at least 25% of the charger’s capacity. Throughout the day, the system checks for excess solar power by comparing solar production and home consumption every 30 seconds.

For NEM 3.0 sites: When the import rate is less than the export rate, excess solar will be sent to the grid, and EV charging will not start.

Under the Self-Consumption profile, battery is used for EV charging only when the Use battery for EV charging toggle is ON. Go to MENU > Settings > Battery to enable or disable the toggle.

Note: When the Self-Consumption profile is overridden using the Charge Now button in the app or during an Add-on Schedule window, IQ Batteries may discharge energy to help offset the large load from the EV if the batteries are above their reserve state of charge.  

With additional off-peak or custom add-on schedules, you can ensure your EV is always charged.

Savings

The Savings profile optimizes for savings on EV charging expenses. Your electric vehicle will be charged only during off-peak hours with any available excess solar. Additionally, if the Use battery after peak hours toggle is enabled for your EV charger, power is pulled in from the battery as well while maintaining a reserve level to prevent full depletion.

To avoid high utility bills from EV charging, the Savings profile will ensure your vehicle is never charged during peak-demand hours when energy prices are at their highest unless an add-on schedule is set.

For NEM 3.0 sites with batteries, the AI Optimization profile offers similar functionality. However, if the import rate is lower than the export rate, solar and battery power will be sent to the grid, and EV charging will not start.

Full Backup

The Full Backup profile ensures you and your property can be prepared for potential blackouts by keeping your home batteries fully charged. After powering home loads, solar energy charges the battery fully, with any remaining energy used for EV charging in 25% increments.

Storm Guard

Storm Guard can be configured to charge the EV at 100% power when a storm alert is detected, using available solar energy, and the grid as necessary, to prepare in advance of possible grid loss.  You have the option to opt out of non-critical weather alerts and continue with preset EV charging behavior.

For systems with Solar and IQ EV Charger

The IQ EV Charger integrates with the Enphase Home Energy System and unlocks access to smart charging using the Self-Consumption profile.

Self-Consumption

The Self-Consumption profile maximizes the usage of solar power to run your home appliances and charge your EV. When the Self-Consumption profile is enabled for EV charging, excess solar produced by your panels—beyond what is used to run home appliances—is diverted to EV charging in increments of 25% of the maximum capacity of the charger. The IQ EV Charger will initiate charging only when the excess solar is at least 25% of the charger’s capacity. Throughout the day, the system checks for excess solar power by comparing solar production and home consumption every 30 seconds.

For example, if you own an IQ 40 EV Charger, the maximum permissible charging rate is 7.7 kW (32 A). The minimum excess solar required to initiate EV charging on this model is 25% of 7.7 kW, which is about 1.9 kW (8 A).

Schedules

Schedules can be used with any of the profile settings listed above for an IQ EV Charger integrated with an Enphase Energy System. For an IQ EV Charger as standalone equipment, schedules can be accessed through MENU > Settings > EV Charger > Schedules.

Off-Peak Schedule

The off-peak hours recommended in the Enphase App are personalized based on your utility provider and plan. This schedule ensures your EV charges at 100% power level during off-peak hours. Power is first drawn from excess solar and battery, if available, followed by grid power. Since grid rates are less expensive during off-peak hours, this schedule aims to minimize your EV charging expenses while ensuring your EV is charged and ready.

Custom Schedule

Suppose there are certain times during the day when you wish to charge your EV, irrespective of whether it is powered by solar or grid energy. In that case, this schedule is a perfect choice. You can charge as per your preference and set reminders to plug in the EV before the schedule begins.

Note: For all charging schedules and manual charging, the IQ EV Charger charges at 100% power level using all available energy sources.

Which Enphase system profile is best for your EV charging goals?

With its profiles, add-on schedules, and reminders, you can set up your IQ EV Charger to operate in a way that aligns with your priorities and lifestyle requirements. By combining your IQ EV Charger with the other elements of an Enphase Energy System, such as solar and home battery storage, you can unlock even more financial and environmental benefits over the lifetime of your EV. Not sure which profile is right for you? Here’s a quick breakdown of the options available to help you understand better.

No matter what your profile, the Enphase App is filled with customizations, reminders, and features that give you complete control over your EV charging when your vehicle is plugged in.

Learn more about safety-certified, all-weather, high-performance IQ EV Chargers.