Owning an electric car is a smart move for your finances and the environment. In addition to reducing your carbon footprint, electric vehicles (EVs) can also save you money on rising fuel costs. Savvy homeowners can extend these benefits by using solar power to charge their EVs.
Here are a few things to know about solar systems and EV charging.
Solar Systems and EV Charging Options
After installing solar in your home, the next question is how to transmit the solar energy into your EV. Technically, you’ll need a charging system compatible with the home’s electric components.
Below is a list of chargers compatible with a home solar system.
- Level 1: Level 1 is a basic portable charger found in most electric vehicles. If you drive 30-40 miles a day, level 1 is sufficient. Typically, it takes 8-20 hours to charge your car battery fully. Therefore, it’s advisable to schedule charging at night.
- Level 2: Level 2 chargers are also known as wall box chargers and are compatible with the home solar system. Even so, level 2 requires a higher power capacity— preferably 32A. As such, assess the ability of the home grid vis-a-vis the extra power demand. In terms of capacity, level 2 is ideal for motorists who drive more than 40 miles a day. What’s more, it takes 3-8 hours to get a full charge. So, you may need to change the electric panel or acquire a new circuit to match the 240-volt rated charging unit.
- Level 3: These are fast chargers used in dedicated EV charging stations located on roadsides.
How Many Solar Panels Does it Take to Charge an EV?
A motorist that clocks 40 miles a day requires an average of 10-17 KWh, depending on the EV model. A modern solar panel can generate 350 watts when receiving 3-7 hours of solar exposure.
If you drive a BMW i3 that consumes 12 kWh for a 40-mile drive, here’s how to compute the ideal number of solar panels.
- Low-end sun exposure — 350w *3= 1.05 KWh
- High-end exposure — 350*7= 2.45 KWh
- Daily requirement during high-end exposure 12/2.45= five panels
- solar panels with low-end exposure — 12/1.05 KWh = 11 panels.
Components needed for Solar EV Charging
The following components will help you successfully tap solar energy into your EV.
- Solar panels attached to the roof canopy or metal racks
- EV Charger— preferably level 2
- String or micro-inverters for converting solar power from DC output into AC format
Are You Ready to Embrace Solar EV Charging?
Installing an EV charging system in your home is crucial to tapping the benefits of an electric car. Consider essential details like KWh demand, daily mileage, and average solar exposure in your locality.
With California’s ambitious goal of going all-electric by 2035, you’ll want to start thinking about purchasing an EV sooner than later. Solar Optimum is here to help you on matters concerning solar panels and EV charging systems. Contact us to get a free quote on the projects you would like to do today or future.
