Charging your electric car with power generated by the sun may sound like something from the future. However, the future is very much here, and every home can take advantage of this technology and become even more sustainable. Charging your EV can be done directly from your solar panels. This only works if your EV is plugged in when the sun is shining, which would not work for those that charge at night. For this, you will need a solar battery bank to store the energy that has been harvested throughout the day. Depending on how much energy your solar panels generate you may even be able to power your home as well as your car.
How does it work?
Charing your EV with solar power requires a home charging unit, solar panels and a PV (photovoltaic) inverter unit. This converts the solar energy generated into usable electricity to charge your EV. Much like at Grid Serve HQ, solar panels generate energy, which is stored in large battery banks ready to be used to charge many EV’s.
Who should buy a solar EV charger?
The main selling point for buying an EV is that they are more environmentally friendly than traditional internal combustion engines. However, when charging your EV fossil fuels are still burnt to generate that electricity. Pairing your EV charger with a solar panel system and battery can significantly reduce your carbon footprint and possibly your energy bills.
How big is your EV battery?
An important factor when looking to install a solar panel system is the size of your cars battery. Those with larger batteries will require more power to charge and therefore the more solar panels needed to generate enough energy.
What financial benefits are there?
Much like buying some EV’s, there is an initial cost which will be more expensive than other alternatives. Solar panels are not cheap, however, after the initial cost you should be able to make your money back within a few years* and even save more as your travel cost reduces. Any extra power generate can also be used to power your home. An efficient solar panel system can cost between £1,500 to £3,000 with larger systems costing more. Those with more powerful EV’s will require a larger system to allow for the most efficient charging. Charging points are generally cheaper, with some wall mounted charging points starting from as little as a few hundred pounds. 22kW fast and rapid chargers will cost more, some well into the thousands. For a bespoke quote to supply and fit an EV charger, get in touch. *The average home household spends almost £2,000 a year on fuel. Source: Kwik Fit
How many solar panels will I need?
There is no set number of panels you will need, this will vary on how many miles you drive. If you drive more than 300 miles a week you will need more solar panels than someone doing short trips into town. The more energy needed to power your EV the more solar panels you will need.
Solar panel charging systems are becoming more common and for those with solar panels this is a cost-effective way of being totally sustainable. If you are looking to install an EV charger and want to use solar panels to generate energy, please get in touch to discuss your requirements.