Integrating EV Chargers With Home Solar Systems: A Guide
What if you could fuel your vehicle with the power of the sun? At Solera Energy, our solar systems can be connected to your EV charging station to provide reliable, virtually free energy to power your morning commute, errands, and weekend drives into the country.
Charging your vehicle with solar power isn’t as difficult as you may think. The team at Solera Energy can help you integrate the solar systems required to support the needs of your vehicle and your driving habits. We offer a full range of solar panels, inverters, solar batteries, and more that we can install to help you enjoy the many benefits of solar energy.
How Home Solar EV Integration Works
To effectively integrate solar energy into your EV charging plan, there are several key elements required to support the arrangement. First and foremost, consider the vehicle. For example, the Tesla Model 3 requires around 4,000 kWh per year for charging. You’ll first need to calculate how much power your vehicle will require annually to determine the number of solar panels to purchase. For most vehicles, this will be between seven to 12 panels.
You will also need to install an inverter and a battery storage system. The inverter converts the direct current generated by the solar panels into the AC current required to charge your vehicle. The battery storage system stores excess power that can be consumed in the evening and on days when heavy clouds and other weather events decrease solar energy generation.
Save On Electricity With Solar-Powered EV Charging
When calculating your cost savings, it’s best to be conservative in your estimate. Generally, it takes around 1 kWh to achieve 3 to 4 miles of driving range. To determine the cost of charging your vehicle, divide the miles you drive each month by three, which will tell you how many kWh are required. Then, multiply this number by the rate charged by your utility provider.
For most households, EV charging at home runs around $64 per month. By comparison, using a public EV charging station drives this price to just over $200. This adds up over time, and it doesn’t take long to recoup the cost of investing in solar panels, batteries, and inverters.
Charge Your EV During Power Outages
There are many benefits to investing in solar panels and solar batteries. In addition to the convenience of charging at home, it helps ensure your setup can charge your vehicle at any time of day or night, as well as during any power outages or adverse weather events. Thus, rain or shine, grid or no grid, you will still be able to charge your vehicle and go wherever you need to go, whenever you need to go there.
Bidirectional EV Charging
Many electric vehicles support bidirectional charging. This allows your home to charge the vehicle and for your vehicle to power your home during an outage. It essentially turns your vehicle into a battery that can keep the lights on, the refrigerator cool, and the HVAC systems operational. In some instances, you can also use this energy as a source of income by sending the power back to the grid and your utility provider.
Go Solar With Solera Energy
At Solera Energy, we provide systems that are customized to meet the needs of our clients. Whether you have a home or business, we have a broad range of solutions tailored to provide the energy you need for your daily needs. When you choose our company, you can rest assured that our comprehensive approach to planning, installation, and operation will establish a reliable solar system you can depend on. We are committed to helping build a sustainable future and will help you find the optimal solutions for your needs today, tomorrow, and long into the future.
Contact the team at Solera Energy to learn more about the solutions and systems we offer.
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