Based on your responses, you may qualify for the NeoCharge Pilot Program.

This is a California Energy Commission-funded study testing whether smart energy monitoring can safely enable home EV charging without expensive electrical panel upgrades (which typically cost $3,000-$6,000). A second goal is proving that the Energy Monitor manages EV chargers from multiple manufacturers over the open OCPP standard. If smart load management isn't locked to one charger brand, installers can use whatever equipment suits the home — and the cost of home charging installations comes down across the board. Your equipment is free: NeoCharge buys you a brand-new Autel AC Elite 50A Level 2 charger ($500 retail value) and the NeoCharge Energy Monitor. On top of that, the program puts up to $1,600 toward professional installation — the only part that can carry a cost — and pays $100 in rewards. For most participants that adds up to nothing out of pocket. You'll also help advance research that could make EV charging more accessible for thousands of California families.

You need to:

• Own or lease an electric vehicle (or have one on order)
• Live in a low-income or disadvantaged community (for most of the 200 spots)
• Own your home or have landlord approval for electrical work
• Have an accessible electrical panel. We no longer screen homes out by photo—our flexible sensor hardware works with most panel types, and a licensed Treehouse electrician makes the final call for your home during the on-site assessment. A small number of homes won't qualify for safety reasons, and we'll tell those applicants directly.
• Be willing to use the NeoCharge mobile app (available in English, French, and Spanish)
• Participate in data collection for about 12 months after your install, through summer 2027

You receive:

• Autel AC Elite 50A: a brand-new Level 2 EV charger ($500 retail value), made by Autel and purchased for you by NeoCharge at no cost, that you keep permanently
• NeoCharge Energy Monitor: Smart monitoring system that manages your charging over the open OCPP standard, so it isn't tied to a single charger brand
• Professional Installation: Up to $1,600 toward installation by a licensed Treehouse electrician, covering labor, materials such as conduit and breakers, and any required permitting. You'll see your exact quote before anything is scheduled.
• Mobile App: Track your energy use and charging sessions in English, French, or Spanish
• $100 in Rewards: $50 after your installation and setup are verified, and $50 at program close-out in 2027

The charger is yours to keep forever—no returns required. The Energy Monitor may remain installed if you're satisfied with it, or we can remove it at no cost if the product isn't continued commercially.

The Energy Monitor uses sensors installed at your electrical panel to measure your home's real-time electrical usage. We use two sensor types depending on your panel, and your electrician selects the right one during installation. It communicates with your charger to automatically manage charging based on available panel capacity. When your home approaches its electrical limit, charging pauses or slows down. When capacity becomes available, charging resumes automatically.

Safety is guaranteed through:

• ETL safety certification, completed before installations begin in September 2026
• Professional installation by licensed electricians
• Industry-standard OCPP technology
• Failsafe design that defaults to safe operation if communication is lost

The system defaults to safe operation if WiFi connectivity is lost briefly. Extended WiFi outages may temporarily reduce or pause charging until connectivity is restored. Normal charging resumes automatically once WiFi reconnects.

Participants are randomly assigned to one of four groups:

1. Control Group: Standard charging without optimization
2. TOU Optimized: Charging scheduled during lower-cost time-of-use periods
3. Grid Emissions Optimized: Charging scheduled when grid electricity is cleanest
4. TOU + Emissions Optimized: Combined cost and emissions optimization

You cannot choose your group—random assignment ensures valid research results. All participants receive the same equipment and benefits. Potential cost savings depend on your study group and utility rates. After the project ends, we'll share all findings so you can choose whichever optimization approach you prefer going forward.

We'll collect anonymized data on your energy usage and charging patterns for about 12 months after your install, through summer 2027, to understand how load management works in real-world conditions. All data is anonymized before being submitted to the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL)—your personal information is not shared.

You may receive occasional emails (typically every few months) with project updates. NeoCharge technical support is available throughout the project to help with any issues or questions. If equipment malfunctions, we'll repair or replace it at no cost.

August 18, 2026: Participants begin entering our installation partner's flow in batches, in the order participation confirmations are received.

After your batch starts: About a week to submit detailed panel photos and site info, then your installation quote comes back within 2–3 days.

September 2026: Installations begin, scheduled on a rolling basis.

Through summer 2027: Data collection runs about 12 months from your install date, followed by the close-out reward.

The NeoCharge Energy Monitor was developed specifically for this CEC pilot, and NeoCharge hasn't yet decided whether it will become a permanent commercial product. This means long-term software updates and support aren't guaranteed beyond the project period.

If NeoCharge doesn't continue the Energy Monitor commercially:

• We'll consult with you about your satisfaction with the product
• If you want it removed, we'll pay for a licensed electrician to remove it at no cost
• If you're satisfied, you can continue using it as-is (though software support may not be available)

Your Smart EV Charger is yours permanently and will continue working as a standard Level 2 charger regardless of what happens with the Energy Monitor.

The equipment is free. NeoCharge buys your Autel Level 2 charger and NeoCharge Energy Monitor outright and provides them at no cost. You never pay for hardware.

The only thing that can cost you anything is the installation itself — the licensed Treehouse electrician's labor, materials such as conduit and breakers, and any permitting your city requires. The program puts up to $1,600 toward that.

What most people pay: Nothing. We expect most installations to come in under $1,600, which means yours would be fully covered. It ultimately depends on your home's unique electrical setup.

If your quote comes in above $1,600: You can still take part. The equipment stays free and the full $1,600 still applies — you'd cover only the remainder of the electrician's bill. You'll see the exact quote before you decide, and there's no obligation.

You'll also receive $100 in rewards, plus technical support throughout the pilot. If you change your mind after enrolling, contact NeoCharge support to discuss your options.

If you are using a Smart Splitter to share power between a 240V appliance and an EV charger, the Energy Monitor plus your new Autel Level 2 charger will be a drop-in replacement for you.

Instead of using a Smart Splitter to manage power between two devices on one circuit, this new system will intelligently manage the power to the EV charger based upon the electrical load coming from your entire home. This enables an even more robust energy management system and allows your EV charger to be hardwired to the panel.

Yes! We are looking for 200+ California EV drivers to join our pilot program. Your equipment, up to $1,600 of your installation, and your $100 in rewards are funded under NeoCharge's grant with the California Energy Commission, project EPC-24-022. We expect most installations to land under $1,600 and be fully covered; if yours quotes higher, you'll see the exact number before you commit and can decide from there.