Solar for Electric Vehicles
Why Charging your EV with Solar Power is Better
Using solar power to charge your EV has many advantages over traditional charging options. With the Clean Vehicle Credit implemented in August 2022, there’s even more incentive to purchase an electric vehicle. But what are the real benefits of charging your EV with solar power instead of grid energy or a public charging station?
Less expensive to charge
After the initial cost of your solar setup, the power you generate and bank is virtually free. You don’t have to pay per kilowatt hour to charge your EV. As of June 2022, the average cost per kilowatt hour is 12.89 cents. To recharge a fully depleted 54kWh battery with electricity from the grid, it will cost you about $7 per charge. This is still much more affordable than refilling your fuel tank on a traditional car, but remember that you also have to pay for the cost of an EV charging station in your home and then continue to pay for the consumed kWh. If you already have solar or are considering adding solar to your home, including a charging station is a no-brainer.
The average cost of installing a Level 2 EV charging station is around $1,300. Some solar installation companies include solar EV charging stations free of charge when adding solar to your home.
Better for the environment
If you purchased an EV, you probably are trying to lower your carbon footprint and support a more sustainable lifestyle. Most on-grid power sources are generated with fossil fuels and non-renewable sources. Using solar energy to recharge your EV is completely sustainable and renewable. Electric vehicles also reduce noise pollution in addition to environmental pollution.
Faster charging
Most electric vehicles have a regular plug that connects directly to any 110-volt outlet, allowing you to charge your EV without installing a charging station. Plugging into a regular outlet is convenient for topping off or charging overnight but takes much longer to charge your EV than when using a Level 1 or Level 2 charging station. If you already have solar, having an EV charging station installed is well worth the cost over time.
Convenience
Charging your EV quickly at home takes the pressure off range anxiety. You can run errands without taking additional time to stop at a public charging station. Some EVs have a range of well over 100 miles from a single charge, so you can take a short road trip or go for a hike without worrying about the range and then charge your EV overnight at home.
How Many Solar Panels Do I Need to Charge My EV?
The amount of power needed to charge an electric vehicle to full charge will depend on the battery capacity of the EV, and the state of charge when you plug it in.
A level 2 home EV charger uses about 7200 watts of power. In ideal conditions, Array’s Powerfit solar modules have a maximum power output of 60w per panel, so you’d need 120 panels to charge your EV in real-time. The lower wattage output per module is due to Array’s modules being smaller than traditional silicon panels. They are designed specifically to fit between the seams of metal standing seam roofs for an integrated look.
Of course, depending on your home battery system, you could charge your EV with much fewer modules than that, so long as you can bank power in your batteries when you’re not using the electricity for other things.
How far can I drive in an EV with a full charge?
Let’s use the 2022 Tesla Model 3 Long Range AWD electric vehicle as an example. It has an average range of 358 miles on a full charge with an 82kWh battery capacity. It can take up to twelve hours to charge your battery, depending on the state of charge, your home connection (110v vs. 220v), or the type of public electric vehicle charging station you use.
The average American drives about 36 miles a day, which is only 10% of the Model 3’s range ability. Depending on your charging station, you could top off your EV in minutes after running errands for the day.
What is the average kWh used vs. gallons of fuel used in EVs?
The Tesla Model 3 uses about 25.8 kWh for every 100 miles driven, giving it an equivalent MPG rating by FuelEconomy.gov of about 131 MPG. Every EV will have a different MPG equivalent, and mileage will also depend on the type of driving.
Challenges of Having an Electric Vehicle
Having an electric vehicle certainly doesn’t come without challenges. There’s always a learning curve with new technology, and everyone’s driving habits are different, consuming various amounts of power.
Range limitations
Fuel-powered vehicles are designed with fuel tanks to last 200-400 miles between fill-ups. You can almost guarantee that you will come across a fuel station on any road or highway within that range. If you top off your tank before heading out into a remote area, you’ll rarely need to be concerned about running out of fuel. Most avid overlanders will bring extra fuel on their vehicles in case they run out in the backcountry.
With fully electric vehicles, you’re not only more limited on their range but also on where EV charging stations are located. Jarrod Tocci, YouTube Vlogger and off-grid enthusiast, drove a Rivian electric truck from Boston to Denver and shared how he was able to keep the vehicle charged.
Time to charge
Recharging an electric vehicle takes time, and not all charging stations are equal. Suppose you’re planning a road trip in a fully electric vehicle. In that case, you’ll need to consider that the waiting period to recharge an EV is much longer than just refilling a traditional vehicle at a fuel pump.
Jarrod also vlogged about driving a Rivian 1,000 miles while towing a camper trailer. His takeaway and advice were that long mileage is absolutely possible. Still, you’ll have to plan very carefully and understand that it will take longer to get to your destination due to the additional time it takes to recharge on the road.
New technology
EVs are still relatively new on the market, and there’s a lot of learning to be had. From general maintenance to dependability in inclement weather or rough terrain, there can be many variables that affect the overall performance of your EV. It’s an exciting new technology that will only become more efficient and reliable with time.
Solar Vehicles
The concept of fully solar vehicles has been discussed for many years. Many have tried to incorporate PV cells onto a vehicle roof to recharge its battery bank without needing to plug into a power source. Until recently, we haven’t had the technology available to charge a battery bank inside a vehicle with solar panels on the limited space of a vehicle roof.
We’ve come far with technology, and now there are a variety of solar-powered electric vehicles on the market. From futuristic vehicle designs like Aptera to Squad’s golf-cart-like suburban mobility vehicle, more options are becoming available for nearly every lifestyle.
Are vehicles with solar PV cells worth it?
As of 2021, the global solar-powered vehicle market is valued at $2.21 billion dollars, and is expected to increase by over 35% by 2031. The anticipated increase reflects supply and demand, with more people becoming aware of the climate crisis and trying to do their part to reduce our carbon footprint.
From an environmental standpoint, solar-powered EVs are worth investing in. The initial cost is comparable to a traditional fuel vehicle with the same amenities. You will save on fuel costs, and many manufacturers promise easy maintenance.
Solar-powered electric vehicles are very new, and there isn’t much long-term, real-world data proving efficiency without recharging your vehicle at a charging station. From that perspective, some may consider the purchase a gamble.
How far can you drive with a solar electric vehicle?
The Aptara solar-powered vehicle boasts a range of up to 1,000 miles on a single charge but has a range of about 40 miles on solar alone. You’ll still need to recharge at a plug-in station to quickly get your range back up. If you only drive occasionally, you may never have to recharge at a plug-in station.
Other purely solar-powered electric vehicles have varied ranges starting at 12 miles, perfect for the urban commute and daily errands.
Array Can Support Your EV Solar Charging Needs
If you’ve been considering adding solar to your home and are interested in purchasing an electric vehicle, Array can help with your solar solution. Once you’ve qualified your roof, you can contact us to discuss your solar needs, and we’ll help you incorporate a solar-powered charging station for your EV.
