Can IFTTT be synced to Tesla to start charging automatically when electric prices go below a certain threshold?

[jonnyg123]

Here in Chicago, IL, the electric company (ComEd) has an hourly pricing option. Electric prices are typically lower during off peak hours (11pm - 5am), and higher during peak hours, but sometimes prices can be very high during typical off peak hours due to an event or unusually high demand on the grid. During the winter storm that hit nearly the entire country, hourly prices went as high at $2.62 kwh in the middle of the night. Then a couple days later, prices went into negative territory in the middle of the day. ComEd directed me to an applet called IFTTT (If This Then That) that allows me to create a notification when the average hourly price goes above or below a certain threshold.

I leave my car plugged in, and when I get a notification from IFTTT that the ComEd price goes below $0.035 (I set this number), I then go to the Tesla app and tap "Start Charging." I then periodically check the real time pricing on ComEd's website and when it starts to go up again I tap "Stop Charging" on the Tesla app. This requires me to do some monitoring. I'm wondering if there is a way to sync IFTTT with the Tesla app and have it automatically start charging when the low threshold is crossed and conversely automatically stop charging when a high threshold is crossed. All this is possible on the IFTTT applet/app in terms of receiving notifications, but I am required to go to the Tesla app to stop and start charging.

It'd be so cool if the middleman (me) could be cut out and all this could happen on its own. Perhaps there's a 3rd party app/program/applet already out there that would enable this? One thought would be to enable an Alexa skill (Tessie?) that syncs with Tesla for commands and somehow program IFTTT to sync with the Alexa skill and tell it to start and stop charging when thresholds are crossed. Would love to hear if anyone has figured this out and is already doing this. Thanks.

 

[parrainx]

So using electricity in your area is like trying to time the stock market?

 

[RayK]

Sounds like tessie.com might do the trick. Here's the page on IFTTT:

IFTTT - Help Center - Tessie

Control your Tesla using IFTTT. Automate your Tesla using a wide range of conditions, including triggers from other apps. Note: IFTTT requires a paid subscripti

help.tessie.com

If you follow the Tessie API endpoint link you will see a menu on the left side of the page. Scroll down and find the Charging topic. Go there and you'll see actions such as Start Charging and Stop Charging.

I've no link to tessie.com. Just found it by Goggling.

 

[KenC]

Can you create an Action in iOS to do that?

$2.62/kWh is highway robbery!

 

[jonnyg123]

Sounds like tessie.com might do the trick. Here's the page on IFTTT:

IFTTT - Help Center - Tessie

Control your Tesla using IFTTT. Automate your Tesla using a wide range of conditions, including triggers from other apps. Note: IFTTT requires a paid subscripti

help.tessie.com

If you follow the Tessie API endpoint link you will see a menu on the left side of the page. Scroll down and find the Charging topic. Go there and you'll see actions such as Start Charging and Stop Charging.

I've no link to tessie.com. Just found it by Goggling.

Thanks, Ray. Looks like this can be done and you found the spot. I didn't realize that Tessie has a monthly service charge when I mentioned it earlier. I wonder if there's a way to accomplish the IFTTT integration/syncing with the Tesla API without using a third party. Looks like there's currently no other way. but I could be wrong about that.

 

[jonnyg123]

Can you create an Action in iOS to do that?

$2.62/kWh is highway robbery!

I don't know what creating an Action in IOS is or how to do that. Apologies, I'm not super tech savvy.

 

[cubicalclang]

Seems to me you’d be better off finding some way to turn on/off your charger than the Tesla. Basically, set the Tesla to charge any time it’s plugged in, and then have an IFTTT controlled charger. There exist wall outlets that can work this way but I don’t know about higher power stuff.

 

[Sophias_dad]

Griddy & Powerwall, HPWC etc might be interesting to you.

 

[ATPMSD]

Another option

Save on your electric bill

Optiwatt integrates your exact electricity rates so you can save on EV charging and HVAC. Automatically use electricity off-peak and earn rebates in utility programs.

getoptiwatt.com

 

[thakkaraakash]

The problem with both tessie and optiwatt is that they get access to your live camera in your car. Which I am not comfortable sharing.

 

[A2be]

Here in Chicago, IL, the electric company (ComEd) has an hourly pricing option. Electric prices are typically lower during off peak hours (11pm - 5am), and higher during peak hours, but sometimes prices can be very high during typical off peak hours due to an event or unusually high demand on the grid. During the winter storm that hit nearly the entire country, hourly prices went as high at $2.62 kwh in the middle of the night. Then a couple days later, prices went into negative territory in the middle of the day. ComEd directed me to an applet called IFTTT (If This Then That) that allows me to create a notification when the average hourly price goes above or below a certain threshold.

I leave my car plugged in, and when I get a notification from IFTTT that the ComEd price goes below $0.035 (I set this number), I then go to the Tesla app and tap "Start Charging." I then periodically check the real time pricing on ComEd's website and when it starts to go up again I tap "Stop Charging" on the Tesla app. This requires me to do some monitoring. I'm wondering if there is a way to sync IFTTT with the Tesla app and have it automatically start charging when the low threshold is crossed and conversely automatically stop charging when a high threshold is crossed. All this is possible on the IFTTT applet/app in terms of receiving notifications, but I am required to go to the Tesla app to stop and start charging.

It'd be so cool if the middleman (me) could be cut out and all this could happen on its own. Perhaps there's a 3rd party app/program/applet already out there that would enable this? One thought would be to enable an Alexa skill (Tessie?) that syncs with Tesla for commands and somehow program IFTTT to sync with the Alexa skill and tell it to start and stop charging when thresholds are crossed. Would love to hear if anyone has figured this out and is already doing this. Thanks.

This is a fascinating question the OP asked a year ago, and it deserves to be bumped.

I just finished some deep research into my Denver, Colorado (Xcel Energy) options for buying cheaper electricity to charge my car, and was beyond underwhelmed. In the main, and in cahoots with the monopoly regulator the Colorado Public Utility Commission, Xcel is trying to keep the vast majority of the surplus from getting EV owners to offload the system and use much lower cost power (by charging at much cheaper times for Xcel to supply the power), while giving peanuts to the EV owner. (Perhaps I should start a thread on that.)

But the IFTTT option the OP suggested might still be better for a Xcel Colorado EV owner using a time-of-use (TOU) rate than the various EV programs on offer where Xcel promises the vehicle owner a mere $50 per year of the rather large benefit to the system.

 

[ATPMSD]

If you have a wall connector, it is worth noting that you can add that to your Tesla app. From there, you can set a charging window to correspond to the low rate.

 

[Gasaraki]

If you have a wall connector, it is worth noting that you can add that to your Tesla app. From there, you can set a charging window to correspond to the low rate.

Is this a very recent thing? I have a wall connector and it never had app integration. Or are you thinking of the Powerwall system that has app integration with the wall connector and the batteries, etc?

 

[ATPMSD]

Is this a very recent thing? I have a wall connector and it never had app integration. Or are you thinking of the Powerwall system that has app integration with the wall connector and the batteries, etc?

Relatively new thing:

https://www.tesla.com/support/charging/wall-connector/tesla-app#:~:text=Tap%20your%20profile%20picture%20icon,Wi%2DFi%20network%20to%20continue.