A system, comprising: a battery; an electric vehicle, the battery coupled to the electric vehicle to propel the electric vehicle; a charging circuit configured to charge the battery; a charging cost circuit configured to estimate a charging cost rate and to turn on the charging circuit; and a timer circuit configured to provide a time signal to the charging cost circuit, wherein the charging cost circuit is configured to: determine charging cost rates; and determine a charging schedule that includes a first time period in which the charging cost rate is below a first threshold and a second time period in which the charging cost rate is above the first threshold; charge the battery of the electric vehicle according to the charging schedule wherein the battery is charged during the first time period until the battery reaches a first energy stored level and charging is paused when the first energy stored level has been reached, and wherein the battery is charged during the second time period until the battery reaches a second energy stored level; wherein the second energy stored level is higher than the first energy stored level; and characterized in that the charging cost circuit is configured to charge during the second time period to reach the second energy stored level only in response to an instruction which is in the form of a stored indicator or an indicator provided based on a manual interaction with a user. a battery; an electric vehicle, the battery coupled to the electric vehicle to propel the electric vehicle; a charging circuit configured to charge the battery; a charging cost circuit configured to estimate a charging cost rate and to turn on the charging circuit; and a timer circuit configured to provide a time signal to the charging cost circuit, wherein the charging cost circuit is configured to: determine charging cost rates; and determine a charging schedule that includes a first time period in which the charging cost rate is below a first threshold and a second time period in which the charging cost rate is above the first threshold; charge the battery of the electric vehicle according to the charging schedule wherein the battery is charged during the first time period until the battery reaches a first energy stored level and charging is paused when the first energy stored level has been reached, and wherein the battery is charged during the second time period until the battery reaches a second energy stored level; wherein the second energy stored level is higher than the first energy stored level; and characterized in that the charging cost circuit is configured to charge during the second time period to reach the second energy stored level only in response to an instruction which is in the form of a stored indicator or an indicator provided based on a manual interaction with a user. determine charging cost rates; and determine a charging schedule that includes a first time period in which the charging cost rate is below a first threshold and a second time period in which the charging cost rate is above the first threshold; charge the battery of the electric vehicle according to the charging schedule wherein the battery is charged during the first time period until the battery reaches a first energy stored level and charging is paused when the first energy stored level has been reached, and wherein the battery is charged during the second time period until the battery reaches a second energy stored level; wherein the second energy stored level is higher than the first energy stored level; and characterized in that the charging cost circuit is configured to charge during the second time period to reach the second energy stored level only in response to an instruction which is in the form of a stored indicator or an indicator provided based on a manual interaction with a user.