How Solar Panels Can Power Your Electric Vehicle
Many people are switching to electric vehicles (EVs) to protect the planet, enjoy high mileage, and save money on gas over the long term. But whatever the reason, there is no denying that the adoption of electric cars is gaining traction!
Home solar panel installation can allow you to charge your EV in the convenience of your own garage! Just think about it, solar panels coupled with an EV can significantly reduce your energy costs and overall carbon footprint.
Here’s everything you need to know about powering up your electric vehicle with solar panels!
The Benefits of Charging EVs with Solar
By choosing to power your EV with solar you can make charging your EV more convenient and economical than ever.
There are some great benefits of charging electric cars with solar:
- The expense of gird power increases over time, whereas solar systems generate electricity as long as the sun is shining
- In many cases, the expense of solar energy is cheaper than grid power
- Solar panels create less pollution than standard electricity grids
What is Required to Charge EVs with Solar Panels?
It is important to note that the solar system required to charge your electric vehicle is correlated to your home’s energy requirements.
That being said, you’ll want to anticipate your solar system’s capacity and size to accommodate your vehicle’s charging needs.
Apart from the solar panels themselves, you will need two other components to charge your EV with solar:
Battery Storage
When charging an EV, you need something to store the electricity that you are generating. Power storage is important since many EV owners rely on charging their cars overnight when the sun is not shining.
This is where battery storage comes in!
Charging Station
You will also need a solar charging station where you can plug in your EV to charge. These are typically located in the driveway or garage.
We suggest level two chargers since they provide much faster charging times. Like storage batteries, many options are available for at-home charging stations.
Charging Your EV with Solar
Follow these simple steps to charge your electric vehicle at home with solar!
#1. Determine The kWh Your EV Requires Based On Your Driving Habits
This step is straightforward. You will just need to track or mileage or estimate how much you drive your EV by using an average number of miles/days.
#2. Determine the Number of Solar Panels You Will Need
An average solar panel generated about 350 watts under full sun conditions and should receive between three to seven peak hours of light per day.
This means that an average solar pane produces between 1.05 kWh to 2.45 kWh of energy each day.
Say you get around 1.75 kWh every day from your solar panel, you will need about five or six panels to generate enough electricity to charge a Tesla Model 3 for 40 miles of range. But keep in mind, that the number of panels you need will depend on how many miles you drive.
Using this approach, you can determine how many solar panels you will need to produce enough energy for your electric vehicle.
#3. Get the Right Solar Equipment
You can’t just put solar panels on your roof and plug them into your vehicle. You will also need all the equipment needed to charge your EV. This includes:
- Solar panels mounted to a roof rack
- A Level 2 electric car charger
- A micro-inverter that converts solar energy output to AC, or a central string inverter that joins the solar pane’s DC output to AC
Charge Up with Solar
An eclectic car powered by solar panels at home isn’t just lighter on the pocket but can also save you from needing to charge your vehicle around town. Plus, the amount of savings you get by charging your EV with solar will easily offset your initial solar investment!
Ready to charge your EV at home with solar power? Call Solar Bear Orlando for a consultation and quote today; (727) 471-7442!
