Solar for Electric Vehicles: How Solar Panels Can Power EV Charging Stations at Home

If you like the idea of driving an electric vehicle (EV) but worry about how to charge it, solar could be the answer. Solar panels for electric vehicles are convenient, especially when charging at home. 

Solar EV charging has key advantages, such as saving you money over the long run and providing an environmentally friendly power-generating option. Learn more about charging an electric car with solar below.

How Do I Charge My EV With Solar Panels?

Investing in renewable energy integration can be an excellent idea, but you need to figure out how actually to implement the idea. You can take advantage of this feature through the following steps:

· You’ll first install a photovoltaic system on your property. This system generates electrical power from sunlight.

· You may need an electrician to wire the EV charger to the solar panels. Hiring an electrician ensures you create a safe hookup that will withstand weather conditions.

· You can charge the batteries on the EV directly, called energy harvesting, or you can use a separate battery system for solar energy storage. You then have power banked for use during cloudy days or nighttime.

If you prefer to simplify setting up the EV charging station at your house, work with a company specializing in this process. An at-home EV solar charging company can set up the system for you, ensuring everything runs efficiently and safely.

How Much Electricity Does My EV Need?

Understanding how much electricity an EV needs is helpful when determining whether to charge it with solar panels. 

An EV uses about 0.3 kWh (kilowatt hours) per mile. You may need more or less depending on your driving habits and vehicle design.

If you drive your vehicle near the average of 1,200 miles per month, you’d need about 360 kWh of power. If you receive an average of five peak hours of sun per day (or about 150 hours per month), you’d need solar panels that can generate around 2.4 kW of power.

If you have more than one EV or if you receive more hours of peak sunlight per month than the average, your calculations will be different. A company specializing in installing solar panels for EV charging at home can help with the calculations.

Charging Your EV at Home Is Convenient

Solar EV charging at your house is a convenient option for numerous reasons:

· You don’t have to worry about finding a public charging station when running errands on a normal day. You’ll always leave the house with a topped-off charge.

· If you add a separate battery storage option, you don’t have to charge the EV directly from the solar panels. You can store the extra solar power in separate batteries, allowing you to charge the EV anytime.

· Using solar to charge your EV is a good way to help with environmental conservation. Charging with solar panels gives you a zero-emissions option for powering your EV.

· You receive energy independence by using your solar panels. You don’t have to worry about problems with the power grid, leaving you unable to charge your vehicle. 

· If you have an existing solar power system at your home, you can tie the EV’s charging needs into your existing system. However, you may need to add some panels for extra capacity.

What Are the Benefits of Charging Your EV With Solar Panels?

One of the biggest benefits of using solar panels for electric vehicles is the cost savings you receive. Charging your car with solar for day-to-day operation is cheaper than other methods. When installing solar panels, you could qualify for rebates and incentives that reduce the upfront cost.

Charging with solar gives you an environmentally friendly EV charging option.

If you live where rolling blackouts occur or weather leaves your power grid down, having your solar panels charge your EV allows you to continue driving.

A potential future benefit of using solar with your EV could be solar-assisted propulsion. Such EVs have onboard solar charging panels that provide benefits like powering the air conditioner or giving you a few extra miles of battery power. This technology could play a bigger role in powering EVs in the future. 

Is It Worth It To Add More Solar Panels To Accommodate an EV?

An average EV needs six solar panels to charge the vehicle adequately for day-to-day usage. However, you may need more panels, depending on if:

· Your EV travels farther per month than the average 1,200 miles.

· Your panels are in an area that receives less sunlight than the average of five hours of peak sunlight daily.

· You live in an area with more cloudy days than average, which affects your peak sunlight time.

· Your solar panels have a lower energy-generation capacity than the average per panel of about 400 watts.

A solar panel installation company specializing in solar panels for EVs can help you decide the number of panels to install. Some people may need to install as many as eight panels to generate more power for the EV.

Additional Read: How to Get the Most Out of Your Solar Panels Investment

How Much Does It Cost To Charge Your EV at a Public Charging Station?

Solar panels for electric vehicle charging at home is significantly cheaper than a public charging station. You pay about 22 cents per kWh at a public station for typical charging. You’ll pay about 50 cents per kWh for a fast-charging option. Depending on the quality of sunlight at your place, you could pay between 6 and 11 cents per kWh to charge at home with solar.

Charging an electric car with solar gives you the potential for long-term savings compared to other fuel options. 

You may already know that operating a motor vehicle with gasoline costs more than twice as much per month than running an EV. However, charging at home with solar panels is significantly cheaper than using the power grid, too. The month-to-month cost of generating power with solar panels at home is less than half the cost of charging using the municipal power grid.

How Far Can an EV Go on One Charge?

With a full battery, the average EV will travel about 250 miles on a single charge. Some long-range models can reach 400 miles or more on a single charge.

An average American driver goes 40 miles daily, so most people do not need a full battery charge for daily driving.

Experience Electric Driving With RxSun

If you’re ready to start driving an EV, RxSun is prepared to help. Our team has multiple EV solar panel options you can use to generate power for your electric vehicle.

You don’t have to worry about significant renovations to install the wiring required to charge your car’s batteries. Instead, trust RxSun for help with installing solar panels for electric vehicles. To learn more about how to maximize your investment and your options for financing your solar charging options, call us today at (800) 607-9786.