evee Central

How Many Solar Panels Do You Need to Charge Your EV?

Cut your electric bill and do your part to save the planet by charging your EV with the power of the sun. Electric vehicles may be the way forward, but they’re only as clean and green as the source of electricity charging their batteries. It’s not ideal to use electricity that’s generated from fossil fuels to charge your EV. With many utilities, it’s likely to be a mix of renewables and fossil fuels. The best way to ensure your EV is powered only by renewable energy is to connect your home’s EV charger to a solar power system or use a public charger that pulls from solar panels. 

Solar power is a good alternative, especially now with spiking gas and electric prices and an intensifying climate crisis. The solar and electric vehicle industries are gaining in popularity each year. Rooftop solar panel installations are breaking records, and US EV adoption is expected to accelerate — it’s predicted to reach 40% of passenger car sales by 2030, according to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics. 

Even if you ignore the numbers, it’s undeniable that EV charging stations are becoming the norm. Automakers are making headlines as they invest in new EV technology, and efficient solar panels installed on rooftops are also becoming commonplace. 

Even with the upswing in EVs and home solar systems, switching from a combustion car to an electric vehicle can be a complicated decision, with considerations that conventional car drivers don’t have to worry about, like installing a charger in the garage. Adding solar panels to the equation adds even more layers of complexity to an already significant investment.

Why use solar panels to charge an electric vehicle (EV)? 

There are some less obvious benefits to home solar charging in addition to watching free, clean electrons pulled from the sky streaming into your car’s battery. 

Most home EV chargers treat your car like any other appliance that needs to be plugged in and charged overnight. Actually, it’s more like a quite needy appliance that requires a particular current (DC) and lots of it as quickly as possible, which can mean operating at high voltage. 

All of this increases strain on the grid and can add a load to your home’s electrical system, especially if your wiring is older or in need of upgrading. In the worst cases of neglect or poor electrical work, it can even be dangerous. 

Using solar panels to charge an EV actually streamlines the charging process because both systems speak the same electrical language, in a way.