There are numerous benefits to using your home’s solar panel system to power your electric car, with the most crucial aspect being optimizing your savings. Using power provided by your solar panels while charging your electric vehicle ultimately saves up to $1,000 per year compared to a gas-powered car.
Also, with an adequately designed solar panel system, generating enough electricity to live comfortably while using your existing panels for EV charging should be no issue. These are a few ways to use your home solar panels more effectively.
What Is Solar EV Charging
A solar Electric charger, or EV charger, is a way of charging an electric vehicle using solar power. The best way to use this system is by connecting with your existing solar panels. These panels typically consist of several different components. With that said, these are the main aspects of your solar panels:
- The solar panels consist of photovoltaic cells. These cells convert solar light into direct current electricity.
- The inverter takes the direct current and converts it into alternating current electricity. The alternating electricity is how your electric vehicle gets the power to charge its battery.
- The electric vehicle supply equipment is how your car gets energy for its power source.
- The battery storage system ensures energy storage does not end up wasted when you disconnect your car from the charging station.
Several factors are at play when making plans to charge your electric car. So consider what you need when charging EV from solar panels.
How Many Electric Panels Do You Need
This is a tricky question to answer. The electric battery’s range, capacity, and the solar panel’s practicality ultimately determine how many you need. For example, a typical homeowner driving 12,000 miles requires around 3,500 kWh yearly to power their vehicle.
This 3,500 kWh is similar to having a singular two to five kWh solar panel system in your home. Therefore, five to 12 panels should generate the proper amount of energy needed, depending on the type of solar panel.
What EV Charger Should You Use
A Level 2 Charger is the most popular choice for an electric charging station and charging method, and prices range from $600 to $800. Whereas, depending on the charger and necessary electrical outlet changes, an EV charger installation costs anywhere from $400 to $1500.
But, despite the initial expenditures, solar charging is the most cost-effective method to power up, especially with all the smart charger discounts.
What Are the Incentives for an Electric Car
Although buying an electric car is a responsible choice, it comes with a considerable upfront cost. Therefore, be mindful of the various incentives available for new electric vehicle owners. One of which includes a federal tax credit for each new electrical vehicle purchased, significantly helping lower the initial cost of buying a vehicle.
As you can see, there are many advantages to having solar panels and electric cars. They are a great way to save on your finances, even though the upfront costs are high. But, in the long run, you can see the positive effects these energy-efficient practices have on your life and budget.
