Can Solar Panels Charge an Electric Car?

Your solar panels do not only have to power your home. If you have an electric car, your solar panels can also fill up the batteries, saving you money and time that you would otherwise spend at a supercharger station. Solar power can indeed power even vehicles larger than your electric car, but how many panels do you need to have a reasonable mileage every day? 

You may start to wonder about this, especially as gas prices keep going up. Although the US has very low gas prices, the sheer amount of gas an average American spends in a year presents a big expense and is likely to keep going up. With this in mind, many Americans keep turning to electric vehicles for their daily trips. 

Indeed, owning an electric car can save a lot of money. This way, you are not as dependent on the price of gas. However, the price of electricity is closely tied to the price of gas, and you may even end up not saving much at all. Luckily, an electric car offers you a number of places, times, and ways that you can charge it, and save money in the process. 

What is an Electric Car?

With this in mind, it is easy to understand why you should consider different ways of powering your electric vehicle. After all, an electric vehicle is just a car with an electric motor instead of a gas engine (ICE – Internal Combustion Engine) and a battery pack instead of a gas tank. 

This battery pack can store a lot of electricity. Some of the earliest models of Tesla car could store around 65 kWh of electricity in their battery pack. Today, that can be as high as 130 kWh. Considering that this is the amount of electricity an average US household spends in four days (at a rate of 30 kWh per day), charging your electric vehicle through your own solar panels can reduce electricity costs for you. 

Incentives

Over its lifetime, your Tesla should be able to save thousands of dollars for you. The solar charging option should boost this as well. Using solar panels to charge your electric car is one of the best ways to boost these savings as much as possible. In addition to this, you can also look for other incentives that can help you save on your car and the higher initial cost of an EV. 

Considering that EVs are now manufactured by most car manufacturers, you may want to check out a few models. Although TESLA is the most popular electric car out there, it may happen that another electric vehicle is better suited for your needs. In any case, any electric vehicle will help reduce your dependence on fossil fuels and will ensure that the solar panels installed on your rooftop can power both your home and your EV. 

On August 16, 2022, President Biden signed the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA). Under this act, US citizens can apply for incentives for purchasing their electric vehicles. There are some limits and eligibility criteria to take into consideration. Under this act, Americans can get up to $7,500 back when purchasing an EV. 

The incentive gives back up to $7,500 when you purchase a new EV, and up to $4,000 or 30% of the vehicle purchase price for a used EV. You can use these credits on your own, or you can transfer them to the car dealership. The latter option may be the best, as you will immediately see a drop in the price of your new car. 

The IRA ct has been designed to reduce pollution, and the inflation rate, and to help boost the US economy. At the same time, the act is aimed at those who may not be able to afford an EV as it is. The upper-income limit, to be eligible for the incentive, is set at $150,000 yearly income for single applicants and $300,000 for joint applications. 

To protect the people who may need financial help to purchase an EV, and since the funds are limited, there is also a cap on how much your electric vehicle can cost. These limits include: 

• Limits for SUVs, vans, and pickups – $80,000, 
• Limits for sedans – $55,000, and 
• Limits for used EVs – up to $25,000. 

The cars should also be assembled in the US, and at least 50% of battery materials have to come from the US. The battery material limits will increase by 10% yearly, and will finally reach 100% in 2029. To make things simpler, here is an incomplete list of eligible vehicles. 

Please beware that the list changes over time, as new models come out and as certain manufacturers reach their limits. For this reason, once you know which EV you would like to purchase, make an application right away. The funds are awarded on a first-come-first-serve basis. 

Electric Vehicle Charging Methods

Once you have your electric vehicle, you can charge them using several methods. As electricity is the only type of “fuel” they take (with the exception of plug-in hybrid models), it is necessary to have a good overview of all charging options and their pricing. Only this way will you be able to save over time. 

• Charging your EV over solar – the cheapest option, especially in states with a lot of sunshine, 
• Charging your EV over the grid – the next best option, moderately priced, but depends on the electricity price in your state, 
• Charging your EV using public chargers – the most expensive option, comparable to gas cost-per-mile. 

$1,777 – Assumed Average Costs of US Gasoline Powered Cars Per Year

Grid Power

Charging your electric vehicle over the grid is a great way to save money. However, how much you will be able to save depends on where you are in the US. For example, Hawaii has very expensive electricity, so you may not save as much. The savings outlined in the table above are for the US average electricity price per kWh of $0.166. 

Charging Cost

However, if you are in a state where electricity is really affordable, you could save even more. Being smart about how and when you charge your car can also help boost those savings. Some US energy providers offer free electricity on nights and weekends, so charging your car during these times is the sanest option. Here is how much it will cost you to charge and run your car in different US areas: 

$1,777 – Assumed Average Costs of US Gasoline Powered Cars Per Year

Public Charging Station

Charging your vehicle over a public charging station is the most expensive option out there. It still costs less than fossil fuels, especially considering how volatile the prices can be, but you can still save some money. These public stations are usually connected to the grid and will provide you with fast charge time. 

You should bear in mind that the type of charger that is here will also determine the price of electricity you pay. AS grid power always costs the same, it is the cost of the charger itself that will influence the price a lot. Level 1 and Level 2 chargers usually cost less than $2,000, but a Level 3 charger (Turbocharger), costs around $50,000 to purchase and install. This is why the prices fluctuate so much. 

Charging Cost

In general, a kWh of electricity in these charging stations costs between $0.40 and $0.70. These prices can be different in different states, depending on the initial price of a kWh in the grid. The only exception here is solar public charging stations, which have a large solar panel array on their rooftop. As using solar panels to charge your EV is always cheaper than grid electricity, these public chargers may cost less but are very few in the US. 

Solar Power

Finally, using a solar system to charge your electric vehicle will cost you the least. It will be much cheaper than using public charging stations, so the extra savings should offset a large portion of the cost. If you have a solar system, you can use it to power your home as well. 

This kind of arrangement would mean that your solar system has to be bigger to support your electric vehicle as well. But again, investing in a good solar panel array will pay off within 8-12 years in most US states. Powering the EV with solar is also nature-friendly and will help reduce your carbon footprint by leaps and bounds. 

Charging Cost

This brings us to the cost of a kWh of electricity. An average kWh of electricity produced after installing solar panels is around $0.06 to $0.08. You will agree that this is much cheaper than a kWh purchased from the grid and much cheaper than the average $0.40-$0.70 per kWh you pay in public charging stations. You should understand that you do not need the most efficient solar panels to do this, you just need a larger solar panel system. 

Solar EV Charging

So far, we have seen that solar EV charging is the most affordable charging option there is. Compared to a gas-powered car, you will be able to save upwards of $5,000 in a 5-year period. As most solar panels in the US are certified to last for 25+ years, these panels will keep their energy production for way longer than your EV will last. Your electricity bill will also be cut down, especially in areas with net metering. 

However,if you live in an off-grid setting, you should understand that the price of installing solar panels here may increase the initial cost. Namely, in off-grid applications, you will need to start all the renewable energy production for your home. You may also want to charge your EV mostly during the day, as doing so during the night would draw too much power from the solar battery. 

At a cost of $7,000 for a simple 10 kWh solar battery, and with a battery capacity of 100 kWh for an average EV, the math simply does not add up. For this reason, you should plan ahead and always check others’ experience in solar EV charging in your area. It is still a great option to reduce your carbon footprint, but there is a threshold where it may not pay off to give up on your gas-powered car. 

How Does it Work?

If you want to install solar panels and use solar power for EV charging, you’re on a good way to significantly reduce your carbon footprint. A solar system like this will cost more upfront, but will pay off in a much shorter period of time and will be much more eco-friendly. To do this, you need to: 

1. Understand your energy use – owning an EV for a while before purchasing a home solar energy system will give you a good idea of how much energy you need, 
2. Calculate the energy needed on a yearly basis, 
3. Check if your area has a net-metering policy, 
   1. If YES – you are good to go and can charge your EV whenever you want, 
   2. If NO – you may have to charge your car only during the day, which is still a good option – charging only during weekends will leave you with a decent charge, especially with type 2 chargers (up to 35 miles of range per hour of charge time), 
4. Before making a purchase, check out electric plans in your state. There may be TOU (Time Of Use) energy plans that cost even less than the $0.06 to $0.08 per kWh that you get with solar panels, 
5. Find the best solar installer in your area, and have them calculate how many solar panels you may need to charge an electric car with your average daily mileage (energy use), and 
6. Start saving. 

Benefits of Using Solar Panels

There is a good reason that so many US households turn to solar power to power their home. As rooftop solar panels spring up in the area around you, you should know that powering an electric car with solar power is not the only use you can have. Indeed, adding home electricity to the solar system will mean you need a larger solar system, but there are many ways to save. 

The most obvious way to save on a solar system is to install one large solar system in one go. This way, you will have a single company do the work in a fixed period of time. You will not need to stay home for two periods, but rather a single one. Furthermore, if you plan on purchasing an electric vehicle, the costs for labor, wiring, and the inverter will be much lower, as you will only pay them once. With this in mind, let’s consider what other benefits you can get from charging EVs with solar: 

• Lower charging costs, 
• Zero carbon emissions, and 
• Convenience. 

Lower Charging Costs

The biggest benefit that comes with owning an EV and solar panels to charge it with is the cost-benefit. Namely, when you have solar panels, they will generate electricity at a price of $0.06 to $0.08. This is much cheaper than even the best electric rates that you can find in the US. With a setup like this, very affordable energy can power both your home and your car. 

Most Tesla cars have a battery of around 100 kWh and give you a range of more than 350 miles. This means that you could travel 350 miles at an average cost of $6 to $8 (the price of fully charging your battery). These are significant savings and can put around $1,000 of extra money in your pocket every year. 

Additionally, powering your home with those same panels will save you even more. At an average US electric rate of $0.166 per kWh and an average solar panel kWh price of $0.07, you will be able to save $0.096 per kWh you use. As an average US household spends around 11,000 kWh per year, you will be able to save $1,056 per year extra. 

That’s over $2,000 a month of savings by investing money. You can even opt for a solar loan, incentives, and solar rebates to ensure you get the shortest possible payback period on the investment. So, you kill two (financial) birds with one stone. 

Zero Carbon Emissions

Reduced carbon emissions are another big benefit of owning a solar panel system. The thing is that each kWh of electricity you use generates around 2 lbs of CO2 emissions. As every state has a different percentage of renewable energy in its grid, you should check out CO2 emissions per kWh per US state. By relying on solar energy, you will be able to reduce your carbon footprint, as all those tiny solar cells work hard to provide you with solar electricity. 

Convenience

The convenience of owning a solar energy system is another big benefit. Not having to worry about fluctuating gas and electricity prices, as well as a much higher independence from the grid and all the services offered by your utility company is the simplest way to enjoy the convenience of a solar energy system. If you have net metering in your area, or even a solar battery, you can save even more, as utility companies usually keep around 10% of the energy you generate to cover grid losses. 

No. of Solar Panels Required

The number of solar panels that you may need for EV charging depends on how much you drive every day. As an average American who drives 40 miles a day, we can do some calculations on our own. Never forget to call a professional solar installer to evaluate your roof, shading, sun angles, and more to ensure that the system you are purchasing is right for you. 

As an average American who drives 40 miles per day, we will need solar panels that can produce at least this much electricity. Tesla Model 3 Standard Range Plus needs 9.6 kWh of energy to deliver 40 miles of range. A Volkswagen ID.4 needs 14 kWh of electricity to deliver the same range. If you decide to go with Tesla, for EV charging, you will need solar panels that can produce at least 12 kWh of energy per day. 

We added 20% of the power here. Why? Because 9.6 kWh may not be enough electricity. You need your solar array to produce electricity for both the electric car and losses that happen – 10% in the inverter and an additional 10% for possible losses on the road – due to traffic jams and inaccuracies in measurement. Then, we calculate yearly energy needs. 

12 kWh * 365 Days = 4,380 kWh per Year 

An average solar array produces around 850 kWh per year for every Wh of installed solar panels. We will divide the yearly energy needs (4,380 kWh) by 850 kWh to get the number of kWs you need to install: 

4,380 kWh per Year / 850 kWh/kW = 5.15 kW ~ 5 kW (5,000 Watts) 

As solar panels typically produce between 250 and 400 Watts of energy each, you will need: 

A minimum of: 5,000 / 400 = ~ 13 X 400 Watt solar panels, and 

A maximum of: 5,000 / 250 = ~ 20 X 250 Watt solar panels. 

Are Solar Batteries Necessary?

No, you do not need solar batteries when you want to charge an EV with solar. In fact, it is the grid that will act as your battery, especially if you live in an area that has net-metering policies in place. In this case, charging EVs with solar energy can take place at any time of the day. If your area does not have net metering, you may want to purchase a solution for stored solar energy, but be careful that this will significantly increase the entire cost. 

If this is the case in your area and you cannot charge your EV during the day, when there is plenty of sunshine, you can also go for an electricity plan with TOU – Time Of Use. This way, you can enjoy a very low charge on your electric bill even when charging your vehicle. Be mindful that your electricity bill will still be higher, even if your solar panels produce enough solar electricity to satisfy most of your needs. 

Another thing that EV owners should keep in mind is the total energy used in a month. Namely, it does not make economic sense to just give energy away for free or at significantly reduced prices. For this reason, most TOU plans will not allow you to use more energy during the free period than you use otherwise. If this is the case with you, you may have to pay even for the electricity used during this period. Always check the fine print on your contract. 

EV Charging Station

We said already that you may not need battery storage to charge an electric car’s battery. However, what you will need is a charging station. There are generally three levels or three types of EV charging stations: 

• Level 1 — uses a 120 V plug, and can deliver around 60 miles of range per every 10 hours of charge time. This is the most affordable option out there and is preferred by most car owners, 
• Level 2 – uses a 240 V plug, can deliver 350 miles of range overnight (10-hour charge time), 
• Level 3 – uses a 480 V plug – this is the turbocharger, but this solution for EV charging is too much for most homeowners – it can fully charge your battery in less than 2 hours. These chargers are also very expensive. 

Cost

When installing home solar panels for producing electricity from both your home and EV battery, you may be saving money, but the upfront investment can be really high as well. On top of this, to use your own energy to “fuel” or charge your car, EV drivers will also need to install an EV charger. The most common types include Level 1 and Level 2 chargers and they cost up to $2,000 to install. Level 3 chargers cost $50,000 and upwards and are much better installed in commercial applications, as the upfront cost is simply too much for most households. 

Adding Solar Panels

If you already have home solar panels, adding panels is the only way to increase the power generated and supply your EV charger with power without upping the energy bill in your home. All the power generated on top of the regular production can be used for the EV vehicle. This way, you know that all the energy you use is clean energy. Even with this extra investment, EV charging costs will still be very competitive with other forms of charging. 

The Most Efficient Electric Vehicle Models in the US 2024

The most efficient electric cars that you can charge with home solar panels will be those that have sufficient mileage so that you do not need to fill up a significant portion of their battery (energy storage) in a single day. This will reduce the cost of your panels, charging station, & inverter. This way, your actual EV charging costs will be kept at bay. 

The best models for home solar charging stations and those with decent mileage are: 

• Tesla Model 3 Standard Range Plus – needs 9.6 kWh of electricity for a 40-mile range, 
• Hyundai Ioniq – needs 10 kWh of electricity for the same range, 
• Tesla Model Y Standard Range – 10.4 kWh of energy use per 40 miles traveled, 
• Chevy Bolt – 11.6 kWh for the same range, and 
• BMW i3 – 12 kWh of energy needed to travel 40 miles. 

FAQs

Conclusion

Your solar panel system can easily power an electric vehicle. With an extension to the system you will also keep your energy bill very low. This is the best way to reduce your environmental impact and to secure that your car runs on 100% renewable electricity. With this in mind, you should plan a solar system that can generate enough energy for both your home and your EV. 

Updated on 03-14-23