Solar Power: Can You Use It to Charge Your Electric Vehicle?

Home charging stations for electric vehicles (EV) usually draw power from the grid. But did you know that you can also charge your EV using solar power? Charging with your own solar-generated electricity can essentially eliminate the “fuel” cost of an EV altogether. In practice, however, this setup can be quite complicated. Green Air Heating and Air Conditioning, Inc. discusses more.

Factors That Go Into Charging an EV Using Solar

Using your solar panels to charge your EV can be relatively easy, but it will depend on a variety of factors:

The size of the solar system. The ones installed on rooftops generate between 5 to 15 kilowatts (kW) of power.
The type of charger. Charger speeds can range from 2 kW up to 22 kW.
The EV’s battery capacity.
Travel distance and frequency.

So if you don’t use your EV to drive to work daily, or only use it within short distances, you can charge it using solar panels that generate electricity up to 5 kW via a level 1 (portable plug-in) charger. Level 2 chargers require a bigger solar panel setup, but it’s possible that they may not provide enough power to charge EVs, especially when the skies are overcast or there’s inclement weather.

Benefits of Charging Your EV Using Solar

Nevertheless, charging your EV using your own solar-generated power has many benefits. By drawing power from your solar system, you can fully charge your EV within hours while saving money. To achieve these significant savings, you want to make sure the solar panels are sized correctly so they can provide enough power for the EV charger.

Another important benefit is the fact that using solar power and an EV is a great way to help the environment. Because you’re no longer using the power grid, you’re effectively reducing carbon emissions and becoming more reliant on renewable energy.

At Green Air Heating and Air Conditioning, Inc. we offer not only solar roofing systems but also EV charging station options. We have over a decade of experience providing quality energy solutions, so you can count on us to work with you in cutting back on using the grid to power your home. Call (925) 627-6527 today or fill out our contact form to schedule a service appointment. We serve California homeowners, including those living in and around Concord.

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