EV Charging
Powering an electric car with solar: setup, savings and sizing.
Charging an electric car from your own roof is one of the most satisfying things solar can do — you're effectively fuelling your miles for the cost of sunlight. But the appeal hides some real planning: an EV can roughly double a household's electricity use, and most charging happens in the evening when the panels have stopped producing.
This hub covers how to pair solar and an EV sensibly, with no product to sell you. The goal is to help you size and schedule so the combination actually saves money rather than just looking green.
Sizing and timing
The key questions are how much extra capacity your daily mileage demands, and whether you charge when the sun is up. Daytime charging lets you use solar directly; evening charging leans on the grid or a battery instead. Our guide on charging an electric car with solar panels walks through realistic numbers — kWh per mile, panels per car, and where net metering fits.
The bigger picture
Adding an EV usually strengthens the case for a larger system and, in some homes, for storage — because you're shifting a big new load onto your own generation. Think of the car as part of the energy system, not a separate purchase, and the economics line up far better. Start here before you upsize your array for the driveway.