ev.energy Launches 'EVolved Charging' Pilot with Black Hills Energy to Optimize Colorado’s Grid

New behavioral program offers cash rewards to drivers for shifting EV charging to off-peak hours, providing critical data for future energy resilience.

PUEBLO, CO, March 19, 2026 – ev.energy, a leading global smart electric vehicle charging software platform, launched the EVolved Charging Program with utility partner Black Hills Energy. This groundbreaking pilot, which is the first managed charging program in this region of Colorado, will use charging insights to help ensure the grid remains reliable and to enable smart investment in a dynamic and cost-effective energy future.

The EVolved Charging Program focuses on acquiring comprehensive information about EV charging patterns within Black Hills Energy’s southern Colorado service territory. The insights gained from this two-year pilot will be essential in helping the utility cost-effectively manage growing EV adoption and advance its overall clean energy and grid flexibility goals. The program has seen high initial interest, with a significant number of drivers enrolling from a waitlist.

Empowering Drivers with a "Carrot-Only" Incentive

EVolved Charging is a passive/behavioral incentive program that uses a simple "carrot-only" approach to encourage off-peak charging. This means drivers are rewarded solely for positive (off-peak) charging behavior, with no penalties for charging at peak times when they need to.

• Financial Rewards: Participants who conduct at least 85% of their monthly home charging (kWh) during Black Hills Energy's designated off-peak hours - all hours outside of the four hours beginning at 5:00 p.m. and ending at 9:00 p.m. Monday through Friday (excluding major holidays) - will receive a flat cash incentive monthly.
• Simple Participation: Drivers simply connect their compatible EV or charger to the ev.energy mobile app, charge during off-peak hours, and view their charging and incentive information in the ev.energy app.
• Real-Time Feedback: The ev.energy app provides integrated, real-time feedback and monthly stats emails, offering "nudges" to help drivers easily understand and adjust their charging habits to maximize their monthly earnings.

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"The EVolved Charging Pilot is a key component of our Transportation Electrification Plan, allowing us to proactively manage the shift to electric vehicles in Colorado, and allowing an incentive to those interested in this style of creative offering," said Eben Nordahl, Senior Customer Programs Manager at Black Hills Energy. "This program is designed to continue delivering safe and reliable electric service while putting customers in control and enjoying the benefits of charging their electric vehicles through this offering. The 'carrot-only' incentive model, coupled with ev.energy's intelligent platform and customer interface, will provide Black Hills Energy with the actionable intelligence we need to invest smartly in grid infrastructure and ensure a smooth, sustainable transition for all our customers."

Driving a Sustainable Future for Southern Colorado

ev.energy provides a scalable, consumer-friendly solution that aligns with Black Hills Energy’s commitment to understanding and adapting to increasing electric load.

"We are proud to launch the EVolved Charging Program with Black Hills Energy," said Kate Merson, Director of Client Solutions at ev.energy. "This pilot will utilize the power of behavioral science and smart charging technology to provide the utility with high-value grid data and demonstrate how digital engagement can cost-effectively improve grid flexibility. By making it easy and rewarding for drivers to charge during cleaner times, we are helping Black Hills Energy meet its clean energy goals while delivering real savings to its customers."

The pilot is set to monitor up to 500 participating EVs, giving Black Hills Energy crucial insights into the effectiveness of behavioral incentives and digital engagement tools in reducing localized system demand.

Eligible EV drivers in Black Hills Energy's southern Colorado service territory can learn more about the EVolved Charging Program and enroll today by visiting: https://evolvedcharging.ev.energy

About ev.energy

ev.energy exists to connect everyone to cleaner, cheaper, simpler energy—managing the world’s distributed energy resources, everywhere. Through its platform, ev.energy provides a scalable, inclusive, and proven platform that turns electric vehicles, solar, and batteries into flexible grid assets, unlocking real value for energy providers, consumers, and the planet. With a global base of utility and OEM partners, ev.energy is the leading force in multi-asset DER orchestration. Learn more at https://www.ev.energy/.

Media contact:
James Pratley
press@ev.energy

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