PowerSouth Electric Cooperative has announced a partnership with electric vehicle charging platform Optiwatt and it could pay off for EV owners.

Optiwatt and 14 of PowerSouth’s distribution member systems invite EV owners across South Alabama and Northwest Florida to participate in the Electric Vehicle Research Pilot. The EV owners can receive a $25 reward.

The Electric Vehicle Research Pilot will analyze EV charging trends to prepare the South’s electricity infrastructure for the expected load from electric vehicle charging. It aims to prepare U.S. electricity grids for increasing EV adoption, which will grow exponentially in the next few years and put local utilities providers under stress due to heightened charging demand. 

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The program is already halfway subscribed after its first week. 

“Our service territory has seen growth in EV use, particularly in pockets of coastal Florida and Alabama,” said Mike Majors, member services coordinator. 

“For EVs to be sustainable long term, we must position the grid to support increased electrification and new charging habits. This is what the Optiwatt partnership seeks to address.” 

Enrollment will end once the program reaches a maximum of 250 vehicles, and the program is currently halfway subscribed after its first week. Participation will not affect vehicle charging in any way. The program supports most electric vehicles on the road today, although plug-in hybrids are excluded.

To enroll, download the free Optiwatt app on the App Store or Google Play, or use a web browser, and follow the program instructions.

Grayson Everett is a staff writer for Yellowhammer News. You can follow him on Twitter @Grayson270